Grave typology and burial customs in Samsun and its vicinity (3rd millenium bc-4th century ad)

The scope of my thesis was to try to reevaluate the graves scattered at the districts and the city-center of Samsun which date from the 3rd millennium BC till the end of the Roman Period within the frame of grave typologies and burial traditions that have been registered, classified and partially published until the present day. Certain burial complexes which have not been published at any scientific research until now have also been studied and classified as much as possible, including their drawings, plans and photographical identifications. The possible dating of these graves was realized by the help of context material found within similar grave examples in the vicinity. Besides the burial material, the grave stelae from the Roman Period registered at the Samsun Museum were also included in our study. Apart from these the burial customs starting from the 3rd millennium BC until the end of the Roman Period were examined and the possible variations, alterations caused by the changing belief systems were determined thus adding a sociological approach to our study.