Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Tag: Anatolian archaeology

Bronze-Age-burial-site-Başur Höyük
Written by March 31, 2025

Archaeologists Uncover 4,800-Year-Old Bronze Age Tombs in Başur Höyük, Türkiye, Where Teenage Girls Were Ritually Sacrificed

Anatolian Archaeology . News Article

As the first civilizations began to emerge in Mesopotamia and Anatolia, significant transformations in social structure, economy, and culture took place. Among the most revealing archaeological sites shedding light on this period is Başur Höyük, an ancient royal cemetery located in eastern Türkiye. Recent studies indicate that this site offers crucial insights into the origins

Tadım Mound
Written by March 27, 2025

6000 years old unique sacred hearth unearthed at Tadım Mound in Eastern Turkey

Anatolian Archaeology . News Article

Elazığ, located in eastern Turkey, has yielded a significant archaeological discovery at Tadım Mound, where ongoing excavations have unearthed two unique decorated sacred hearths dating back 6,000 years. Alongside these hearths, the excavation team also found 12 Karaz pots dating from 4000-3000 BC and a painted pot decorated with mountain goat motifs from 3200 BC.

In 2023, significant archaeological excavations at Tepecik Mound, located in the Çine district of Aydın, Türkiye, uncovered a dense layer of ash that sparked intrigue among researchers. The unique color and composition of the ash led the research team to hypothesize a potential link to a volcanic eruption. To validate their hypothesis, they sent samples to the Atomic Institute of Vienna University of Technology for detailed analysis. The findings from Vienna University of Technology provided an unexpected revelation: the ash discovered at Tepecik Mound originated from the catastrophic volcanic eruption on Santorini Island approximately 3,500 years ago. This discovery was led by Prof. Dr. Sevinç Günel from the Department of Archaeology at Hacettepe University, who has been overseeing the excavations at this historically rich site, which spans around 7,500 years and includes artifacts from the Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age. A scientific paper published in the international archaeology journal Anatolica last December detailed the similarities between the ash from Tepecik Mound and volcanic materials from Santorini. Prof. Dr. Günel emphasized that the impact of the Santorini eruption, which occurred around 1500 BCE, was felt across a vast area, from Western Anatolia to the Eastern Mediterranean. Günel clarified that the ash found during the excavations was not a result of local fires. Instead, it contained crystal-like glass fragments, indicative of its volcanic origin, and formed a substantial layer at the site. “The analysis of these ashes was conducted at the Atomic Institute of Vienna University of Technology, and the results showed elements similar to those found in Santorini ash. We selected this laboratory due to their extensive research and databases related to the Santorini volcano, which allowed us to obtain conclusive results,” she explained. In the areas where structural remains were uncovered, the ash layer covered pottery associated with ancient architecture and even revealed the remains of an adult individual. The confirmation of Santorini ash underscores the devastation caused by the volcanic eruption and the subsequent earthquakes that occurred 3,500 years ago. This remarkable discovery at Tepecik Mound not only deepens our understanding of ancient volcanic activity but also illuminates the historical connections between regions impacted by such natural disasters. Further updates on this captivating archaeological find are eagerly anticipated.
Written by February 17, 2025

The mystery of the 3,500-year-old ash layer at Tepecik Mound in Turkey has been solved

Anatolian Archaeology . News Article

In 2023, significant archaeological excavations at Tepecik Mound, located in the Çine district of Aydın, Turkey, uncovered a dense layer of ash that sparked intrigue among researchers. The unique color and composition of the ash led the research team to hypothesize a potential link to a volcanic eruption. To validate their hypothesis, they sent samples