The Eastern Anatolia Region

July 21, 2009

The cradle of civilizations, Eastern Anatolia is a region where many significant archeological excavations are carried out.
Archeological excavations carried out in Altintepe ancient site in the eastern province of Erzincan are bringing to daylight many historical artifacts. The excavations were launched in the site in 2003 under a team chaired by Professor Mehmet Karaosmanoglu, the head of the Archeology Department of the Ataturk University.
The oldest stone toilet, bath, sink and a Roman building with mosaic ground are among the artifacts unearthed during Altintepe excavations. Also, three-chamber king graves were found in Altintepe.
The first excavations were launched in Altintepe in 1959 by Professor Tahsin Ozguc. 
The unearthed artifacts are preserved in the depot of the Erzincan Culture & Tourism Directorate.
An ancient Urartian site, the remains in Altintepe are sited on a 60-meter high volcanic hill. During diggings between 1959-1968 by Professor Dr. Tahsin Ozgucu, a castle of the Urartian period was found. In this area, a temple (or palace), the great hall, warehouse, city wall, rooms, three subterranean rooms sided on south of the hill and an open-air temple were found and excavated.

ANI: CITY OF 1001 CHURCHES
Ani Ruins, including ruins of ten churches, a bridge and buildings, are situated in Ocakli village of the eastern province of Kars. 

Professor Yasar Coruhlu, a lecturer of the Arts History Department of Istanbul Mimar Sinan University, has been chairing the excavations in Ani Ruins since 2006. The excavations were launched in the area in 1989. 
A Seljuk bath, many glassware, coins and metal tools dating to Middle Age, and constructions thought to be used as workplaces were discovered during excavations in Ani Ruins.
The artifacts are exhibited in the Kars Museum.
A ruined and uninhabited medieval city-site, Ani was called the "City of 1001 Churches". The city stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world.
All the structures at Ani are constructed using the local volcanic basalt, a sort of tufa stone. It is easily carved and comes in a variety of vibrant colors, from creamy yellow, to rose-red, to jet black. The most important surviving monuments are as follows: The Cathedral of Ani, the Church of St. Gregory of Tigran Honents, the Church of the Holy Redeemer, the Church of St. Gregory of the Abughamrents, King Gagik's Church of St. Gregory, the Church of the Holy Apostles, the Mosque of Minuchir, the Citadel, the city walls and a cave village.

ERZURUM CASTLE
Excavations are underway in Erzurum Church since 2005. Erzurum Castle was predicted to be constructed in the first half of the fifth century A.D. It was used by Assyrians, Sassanians, Persians, Arabs and Romans throughout history.
Also, there are historical constructions dating to the Ottoman era, many ceramics and coins in the castle.
The artifacts are displayed in Erzurum Museum.

EXCAVATIONS IN MALATYA
A late period Hittite lion and king statue, unearthed in excavations carried out in Aslantepe ruins in the eastern province of Malatya, are being exhibited in Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara.
French archeologist Louis Delaporte launched excavations in Aslantepe, a city center during Hittite era, in 1932. The Italians handed over the excavations from the French in 1961, and are still heading them. 
Professor Marcella Frangipane, a lecturer of the Italian La Spienza University, is carrying out the excavations.
Being associated with the Late Hittite era, there are also remains from Bronze, Chalcolithic and Roman ages. The Hittite civilization ended in Aslantepe after invasion of Assyrian King Sargon, and then Roman civilization was seen in the area.
Aslantepe was a settlement of many civilizations throughout history, one after the other.

ASLANTEPE EXCAVATION SITE TO BE CONVERTED INTO MUSEUM
The palace, unearthed during excavations in Aslantepe ruins and dating to 4,000 B.C., will be converted into an open-air museum this year. 
After the project is completed, excavation team will continue carrying out excavations in the site and the palace will be opened to visitors. 
The sword, seal and other artifacts discovered in excavations were handed over to Malatya Archeological Museum.
Excavation team carried out works on the site in June, and will continue their excavations from August 15 to October 20. In their excavations in June, the team unearthed a Byzantine grave and pieces of ceramics; ceramic and bone pieces dating to Early Roman era.
Aslantepe was a city from 5000 BC to 712 BC, until the Assyrian invasion, and was later abandoned for a long time. It then became a Roman village from 500 to 600 AD, and later a Byzantine necropolis. The first palace in the world was built in Aslantepe in 3350 BC. There are storage chambers, a corridor, a courtyard and a temple in the palace.

EXCAVATIONS IN BITLIS
Professor Kadir Pektas, the head of the Art History Department of the Pamukkale University, launched excavations in Bitlis Castle in 2004. 
A bath and houses dating to 18th and 19th centuries have been unearthed during excavations so far. Also, excavation team have unearthed coins and ceramics.
Coins with Ottoman sultan signatures, found during excavations, proved that there was a minting office in the eastern province of Bitlis.
Artifacts unearthed during excavations are being displayed in Bitlis Ethnography Museum.


ANCIENT AHLAT SETTLEMENT
Professor Haluk Karamagarali launched excavations in the Ancient Ahlat settlement in 1967. Associated Professor Nakis Karamagarali, the head of the Engineering Department of the Gazi University, is chairing this year's excavations. 
Some architectural and small pieces of artifacts were unearthed during excavations, which are exhibited in Ahlat Museum. 
Ahlat, on the west coast of Lake Van, was founded by Caliph Omar (581-644). In the 11th century it was a Seljuk stronghold and the city and cemeteries contain many Seljuk monuments of the 12th-13th centuries, including thousands of very large decorated gravestones. The fortress dates from the Ottoman period (16th century).

EXCAVATIONS IN VAN
Ayanis Castle, belonging to Urartian Kingdom - one of the strongest civilizations in the Eastern Anatolia Region -, is brought to daylight by excavations headed by lecturer Altan Cilingiroglu of the Ege University. 

The artifacts are exhibited in Van Musuem. 
Archeologists think that the castle, constructed in 672 B.C., might have been demolished due to an earthquake or a fire following an earthquake in 653 B.C.
Pieces of a bronze statue, particularly a hand, was unearthed in recent excavations around the castle.
Around 2,000 artifacts have been found in the excavations so far, including a scepter.
Ayanis Castle, located on the shore of Lake Van, 35 km to the north of the city of Van is proof of the peaks reached by Urartian art in the reign of Rusa II. Like all Urartian castles, it is situated on a rocky peak. The castle, with the exception of its south facade, is surrounded by walls made of limestone blocks. The south wall is made of andesite stone obtained from quarries in the Timar district of Van. The castle had obviously been planned in detail before it was built and the plan was adhered to throughout. The monumental entrance gate, measuring 4.0 x 3.0 m. in the south wall is of a type rarely encountered in Urartian castles.
Archaeological excavations that have been under way in the castle since 1989 have proved the existence of a hall with columns and larders with a large number of storage jars in them. The fact that the basements of all the structures excavated were full of storage jars up to 2 m. tall indicates that Ayanis Castle could have been an administrative centre for the collection of tributes from all over the region.
A cuneiform inscription immediately in front of the monumental gate of Ayanis Castle tells us that the castle was built by Rusa II, son of Argishti and that its name was Rusahinili (City of Rusa), that of the city in front of Mount Eiduru (Suphan).

EXCAVATIONS IN ELAZIG
The fifth leg of the first Ottoman archeological excavations of Turkey will be carried out in Harput, the ancient settlement in Elazig. 
Excavations were launched in Harput Inner Castle in 2005, and are carried out under the chairmanship of Haydar Kalsen, the head of Elazig Archeology and Ethnography Museum. 
The artifacts will be exhibited in Elazig Archeology and Ethnography Museum.
A mosque, houses, shops, squares, streets, and cisterns were unearthed during excavations. 
The most interesting historical structure found during excavations was a construction, carved in rocks and used as a dungeon. It was built as a cistern by the Urartian Empire 2,800 years ago, but it was used as a prison during Byzantine and Artuklu eras. 
It was a place where Artuklu Amir Balek Ghazi imprisoned King Baldwin II of Jerusalem in the 12th century. 
Also, the excavation team discovered many coins.
According to the present historical sources, the most ancient inhabitants of Harput were the Hurrian nation who settled in the Eastern Anatolia Region after 2000 B.C. Harput and vicinity had entered under the reign of Turkish nation in the year 1085 as the outcome of the victorious Malazgirt battle August 26, 1071. The Cubukogullari, Artukogullari, Akkoyunlular and Ottomans had reigned the region.