News

Nov 02, 2024

Experts to uncover the secret of the monumental and three-dimensional Urartian statue found on Garibin Tepe - Arkeonews

In an area where rescue excavations were conducted last year, archaeologists discovered a basalt stone statue from the Urartian period that weighed approximately one tonne during the archaeological

In an area where rescue excavations were conducted last year, archaeologists discovered a basalt stone statue from the Urartian period that weighed approximately one tonne during the archaeological excavations in Van’s Tuşba district.

In 2023, archaeologists found the first monumental statue of its kind in the region during rescue excavations at Garibin Tepe. This fascinating discovery, which is roughly 2 meters long and 1 meter wide, was discovered in a historical site only 3 kilometers from Ayanis Castle and 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the city center.

This year, the excavation was concentrated on the southern portion of the hill and was headed by Van Museum under the scientific direction of Professor Mehmet Işıklı from the Department of Archaeology at Atatürk University.

Professor Işıklı stated: “This is a monumental three-dimensional statue that we have never encountered before. We are very excited, and after preliminary studies, we hope to gain more detailed information.”

The statue, believed to have a broken neck, is noted for its impressive size and craftsmanship. After detailed examinations by a team from Ankara, the mystery of the basalt statue is expected to be solved.

Professor Işıklı stated that the Urartian civilization is one of the least understood areas because it has very few known sculptural works.

Işıklı said, “In Urartian art, there are very limited works related to plastic arts, namely sculpture. We are working with only a few examples. In metal or stone, we don’t have much data in terms of sculpture. In this regard, pieces of an object related to a lion statue were previously found in the excavation area. This year, however, we encountered a find that surprised us greatly. A striking example of Urartian plastic art made of basalt was unearthed.”

He also mentioned earlier finds in the region, mentioning a statue of a lion that was discovered in 1995 while conducting rescue excavations. This new finding broadens our knowledge of the Urartians’ creative practices.

“This is a statue carved as a solid block. We cannot say anything definitive at the moment about what it represents, as it is highly stylized, approximately 2 meters long and 1 meter wide, and monumental. The statue is being transported to the Van Museum, where preliminary studies and interventions will take place. After restoration, we will gain more insight. It is a striking find in an area with very few unique Urartian artifacts.”

Işıklı continued, “We are encountering such a monumental, three-dimensional statue for the first time. We hope to gain more detailed information after the initial studies. It resembles a figure with a carved base, a stylized head, a square prism-shaped body, and indiscernible facial features. It appears monumental. Whether it represents a divine or royal figure is very hard to determine. We even considered if it was a postmodern statue.”

Emphasizing that Garibin Tepe is an exciting site, Işıklı stated that the discovery makes a significant contribution to the Urartian heritage in Türkiye.

Cover Image Credit: AA

19 November 2021

Archaeologists from the University of Münster and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia have discovered remains...

12 July 2024

Croatian underwater archaeologists have made an extraordinary discovery off the southern coast of Istria near Cape Kamenjak. They have unearthed...

19 August 2021

Archaeologists from the University of Reading and local volunteers excavating on the grounds of Holy Trinity Church have made an...

20 July 2024

Located in the majestic Sarawat Mountain range in western Saudi Arabia, the ancient beehives in the Maysan Governorate constitute a...

8 October 2021

Archaeologists discovered mummified skeletons dating from the 2nd century A.D. within two sarcophagi at the Hisardere Necropolis in Bursa’s Iznik...

25 July 2022

A rare 1850-year-old exceptionally well-preserved bronze coin depicting the Roman moon goddess Luna has been found off the coast of...

14 March 2021

The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said on Saturday that a French-Norwegian archaeological team had discovered a new ancient Christian settlement...

1 August 2024

A male skull with the Greek inscription “Pilgrim Dimitrakis” was found during archaeological excavations at Balatlar Church in Sinop, on...

23 February 2023

Archaeologists have discovered wooden defenses surrounding an ancient Roman military base for the first time in Bad Ems, western Germany....

24 March 2021

Salt has always been a precious metal. Salt was needed in many areas, from the preservation of food to the...

11 April 2023

The 1,600-year-old sandals and comb unearthed during the excavations of Theodosius Harbor (Portus Theodosiacus), the second-biggest harbor built on the...

24 March 2021

50 years ago, foundation excavation work was started for the construction of Girls’ Institute in Akpınar Neighborhood of Bolu city...

11 December 2023

Numismatists from the Faculty of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw have examined thousands of previously ignored small coins (Nummi...

17 January 2024

Paleontologists say they’ve identified and described the oldest fossilized reptile skin ever found. A team of paleontologists from the University...

17 March 2021

A complete skull fossil from 7.5 million years ago was discovered on the bank of the Yamula Dam in the...

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.