8 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

An Urartian female executive grave was found at the Çavuştepe Mound

The grave of an Urartian, who was buried with his horse, cattle, and dog, had been found recently. Today, another interesting tomb was unearthed in the Çavuştepe Mound necropolis at the same place.

Excavations are being carried out in the area of Çavuştepe castle and the necropolis to its north, under the direction of Professor Rafet Çavuşoğlu, head of the Archeology Department of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University (YYÜ).

When the team led by Professor Rafet Çavuşoğlu removed the tomb of the manager, who was buried with his horse, cattle, and dog, they reached the tomb of an Urartian woman underneath.

Çavuştepe castle
Çavuştepe Mound

The woman had no head

It was seen that the woman, who was buried with her jewelry, did not have a head. Noting that this situation is the result of his religious belief or a ritual, the excavation head Rafet Çavuşoğlu told Anadolu Agency (AA).

“We guess that the head of the woman who owns the tomb may have been placed in a more sacred place. We also found two official seals on the skeleton.”

When the team led by Professor Rafet Çavuşoğlu removed the tomb of the manager, who was buried with his horse, cattle, and dog, they reached the tomb of an Urartian woman underneath.

“There were two seals in the jewelry that are very important to us. One of these seals is made of bronze and the other is made of alabaster. In ancient times, rulers and merchants could carry seals. It is very important that there are two seals on the woman here. The tree of life and various figures are engraved on one of them. The other one is arranged in the form of a lion and there is a stamp at the bottom.”

Urartian female manager
The tomb of the Urartian female executive attracts attention with its rich tomb gifts. Among the grave gifts are two seals.

“We determined that the skeleton belonged to a woman between the ages of 40-50. The necklace has the classical features of the Urartians. In addition, we are faced with magnificent jewelry made of metal, bronze, and silver beads, agate, coralline, pyrite stones, seashell, and glass. The ornamental pins with three animal ornamental heads are quite well preserved. There is a pendulum earring that is beautifully crafted bronze. Very valuable jewelry for that period. It was found not in order but stacked on top of each other. Jewelry with seashells can only be found in the Mediterranean. It must have arrived by trade or by special order. This shows that this person is a very important person. Çavuştepe necropolis has always surprised and continues to surprise us,” he said.

Related Articles

Relief masks discovered in Turkey’s ancient city of Kastabala

7 January 2022

7 January 2022

In the ancient city of Kastabala (Castabala), which dates back to 500 BC, located in Turkey’s southern province of Osmaniye,...

AI Unlocks Ancient Secrets: Dead Sea Scrolls May Be Centuries Older Than Previously Thought

8 June 2025

8 June 2025

New research blends cutting-edge artificial intelligence with advanced radiocarbon dating and offers a transformative perspective on the origins of the...

Over 4 feet long sword found in a medieval grave in Sweden

29 December 2023

29 December 2023

An unusual and exciting discovery was made during archaeological research at Lilla Torg in the port city of Halmstad on...

Aramaic four inscriptions found for the first time in eastern Turkey

17 September 2022

17 September 2022

Four inscriptions written in Aramaic were discovered in the ancient city with a grid plan, located on an area of...

6000-Year-Old Salt Production House Rewrites Europe’s History

31 March 2021

31 March 2021

Archaeologists in the UK have found an ancient stone age-era salt-production house in North Yorkshire, estimated to be older even...

Britain’s Largest Iron Age Gold Coin Hoard: A Possible Tribute to Julius Caesar?

16 May 2025

16 May 2025

In a stunning revelation, British authorities have recently announced the discovery of an unparalleled Iron Age coin hoard, a singular...

Archaeologists discover Europe’s longest prehistoric mound in the Czechia

22 June 2024

22 June 2024

Czech archaeologists in the Hradec Králové area in East Bohemia have discovered what is probably the longest prehistoric mound in...

A cobbled ford uncovered near Evesham could be the finest Roman example of its type in Britain

19 October 2022

19 October 2022

A cobbled ford believed to be of Roman construction has been discovered near Evesham in Worcestershire, England. If the path...

Neolithic Age Adults and Children Buried Under Family Homes were not Relative

3 May 2021

3 May 2021

An international team of scientists found that Children and adults buried next to each other in one of the oldest...

“Scythian golds” will be returned to Ukraine

15 November 2021

15 November 2021

The fate of the Scythian Golds, which were sent to be exhibited in the Allard Pierson Museum before the Russian...

Ancient Hippodrome, Subject of Ben-Hur Movie, Will Become “Arkeo Sports Park”

8 August 2021

8 August 2021

Ben-Hur, a wealthy prince living in Jerusalem, is a historical figure who struggled for the freedom of the Jews during...

Forged 5,000 Years Ago: The World’s Oldest Swords Discovered at Arslantepe Mound, Türkiye

10 June 2025

10 June 2025

In the arid plains of Eastern Anatolia, nestled along the western bank of the Euphrates River near Malatya, Turkey, lies...

5,500-Year-Old Blade Workshop Unearthed Near Biblical Gath Reveals

28 July 2025

28 July 2025

In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, Israeli researchers have unearthed a 5,500-year-old flint blade workshop near Kiryat Gat, southern Israel—the first...

Researchers have found in miniature ceramic bottles evidence of the oldest known use of cosmetics in the Balkans

14 July 2021

14 July 2021

In miniature ceramic bottles from excavations ascribed to the Lasinja Culture in the Southeast Prealps and the Vinča Culture in...

Poseidon’s Trident Discovered in Lake İznik

4 May 2025

4 May 2025

The depths of Lake İznik have yielded a discovery of profound significance, instantly captivating historians and archaeologists. The recent recovery...