Türkiye’s Archaeologists Discover Urartian Burial Clues

(MENAFN) In eastern Türkiye’s Van province, archaeologists are shedding new light on ancient burial customs in a historic Urartian necropolis, with compelling signs suggesting that women may have held positions of significant influence in the Iron Age kingdom.

Excavation efforts recommenced earlier this year at the site of Cavustepe Castle, which was originally built by the Urartian ruler King Sarduri II between 764 and 734 BC.

Archaeologists have also turned their focus to a nearby necropolis — a vast area containing burial sites and communal graves — under the authorization of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Braving intense heat and swirling clouds of dust, a dedicated team under the leadership of Rafet Cavusoglu, the head of the archaeology department at Van Yuzuncu Yil University, is meticulously uncovering historical remnants that have remained hidden for over two thousand years.

Their recent discoveries include skeletal remains and ceramic relics from the necropolis, believed to be the final resting place for individuals of noble or high-ranking status.

These artifacts are anticipated to offer valuable perspectives on the daily lives, societal roles, and funerary customs of Urartian elites.

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