Excavations shed light on Urartian’s social life
VAN - Anadolu Agency
AA photos.
The excavations that have been continuing for five years in the tumulus located in the northern side of the Van Castle have unearthed objects that shed light on social and cultural life of the Urartians. Among the most interesting findings is trade tablet detailing commercial information.Istanbul University Van Region History and Archaeology Center Deputy Director Assistant Professor Erkan Konyar is the head of the centuries-old excavation field, where 35 academics are working.
Among this year's most important findings is a tablet detailing
commercial information about products that were dispatched from the area.
He said that during this season’s works, Urartian houses were found in civic settlements and their architecture structure showed that the houses belonged to the people who were working to meet the needs of the royal people living in the citadels.
“Most of the findings have civic characters. Among the most important findings of this year is a tablet of mandate, which has commercial content. It is about products that were dispatched from here. It is very important to understand commercial relations. Maybe this place was the house of a clerk, and kiln tablets had been written here. It is now being scientifically examined,” he said.
He added that inside the Urartian people’s houses they had found ovens and foodstuffs. “We see that the traditional house culture in Van also existed in the Urartian era. We see the reflections of the Urartians today. Ovens and cellars, which are seen in Van houses today, are also seen in the Urartian houses. Houses do not have a certain order. They were arranged to meet the needs of the people living there. Their architecture is different. This is why further excavations are very important. It was also a surprise for us that the houses were preserved well. Walls still survive. The tumulus will provide us very important data to determine the history of the city,” Konyar said.