(MENAFN) Archaeologists have discovered carbonized barley grains dating back 5,000 years to the Early Bronze Age at the Iremir Mound in Van, eastern Türkiye.

“Findings show that this is an important agricultural center,” said Hanifi Biber, an archaeologist at Yuzuncu Yil University and head of the excavation team, speaking to a news agency.

The excavation revealed a kitchen area containing an oven, pottery, upper and lower grinding stones, small cattle bones, and barley grains found in and around a broken jar.

Biber noted that the mound, which contains eight layers from different periods, represents the oldest known settlement in the region. He added that the primary layers belong to the Karaz culture—also referred to as Early Transcaucasia—which spread across Eastern Anatolia and the South Caucasus during the Early Bronze Age.

“During the environmental cleaning of the warehouse space we opened in 2023, we found a kiln and pots adjacent to the north wall of the space. This is very important for us as it has been preserved in situ (in the original place of use),” Biber explained.

Pottery fragments, possibly dating to the Late Chalcolithic Period, were also found in the same area.

In addition, remains of a building, likely a warehouse, were discovered near the mound. Archaeologists found upper and lower grinding stones alongside cutting and piercing tools made of obsidian (volcanic glass) and bone.

“The results we obtained are very important as they provide information that will shed light on the history of the bottom of Lake Van in general and the Gurpinar Plain in particular,” Biber said.

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