BÜCÜRLÜ PINAR ROCK PAINTINGS IN CONTEXT: A NEW CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF ANATOLIAN TURKIC ROCK ART

The tradition of tamga, which holds a deep-rooted place in Turkish cultural history, began in the pre-Christian era and was applied to inscriptions, tombstones, rock surfaces, and animals. Tamgas functioned as symbolic markers used to indicate individual or collective ownership and affiliation. Although tamgas found in rock art may appear visually similar, each exhibits distinct formal characteristics. These symbols have served as significant sources for documenting cultural identity, social structures, and settlement patterns since the earliest periods of Turkish history. In many cases, the areas where tamgas were inscribed may be interpreted as territorial markers akin to land deeds. As symbolic phenomena, tamgas offer valuable data for analyzing the religious and artistic discourses of societies. Originating in Central Asia, this tradition gradually spread throughout Anatolia and further into the Balkans over time. While the original users clearly understood the meaning and symbolic value of tamgas, they may have undergone formal transformations or lost their significance for subsequent generations. The prolonged use and widespread presence of shared tamgas suggest their integration of religious, cultural, and symbolic layers associated with extended tribal and clan affiliations. This study aims to systematically analyze the tamgas identified in the rock paintings of Bücürlü Pınar, located within the borders of Burdur Province, and to contribute to the broader body of research on Turkic rock art in Anatolia.