The Beginnings of the Excavation Project
Since 2017, a team of scholars led by Professor Rafet Çavuşoğlu, head of the archaeology department at Yüzüncü Yıl University in Van, eastern province, have been conducting excavation works at Çavuştepe Castle. Located in the Gürpınar district, this site is a crucial archaeological spot aimed at uncovering the history of the Urartian kingdom.
Discovery of a Noble Urartian Necropolis
During the long-term excavation, the team discovered a necropolis, believed to be the burial site of the Urartian ruling class. Most recently, they unearthed the skeletal remains of a woman buried with a full set of exquisite jewelry. The team’s anthropologists are now preparing to study the skeleton in a laboratory setting to determine the cause of death and the exact age of the woman.
The Importance of Jewelry in Burial Customs
Professor Çavuşoğlu shared in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) that this find not only reaffirms the importance of jewelry in the burial rites of the Urartians but also shows that the woman, likely aged 20-25, was buried with all her everyday jewelry. This underscores how highly the adornment traditions for Urartian women were regarded.
Social Significance and Special Discoveries
The professor also emphasized that the value placed on women in Urartian society became even clearer through their excavations, particularly those who were wives or relatives of the ruling class at the castle. One of the most significant finds is the woman’s ring, which may be the earliest archaeological evidence of a prenuptial agreement.
Conclusion: The Significance of Urartian Culture
The Urartu civilization, an Iron Age kingdom located near Lake Van and stretching between Anatolia, Mesopotamia, the Iranian Plateau, and the Caucasus Mountains, was a considerable power in the Middle East around the mid-ninth century BC. Recent discoveries at Çavuştepe Castle not only illuminate the rich history of this kingdom but also highlight the sophisticated societal structures and cultural practices of the Urartians.
