27 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Cuneiform Clues Reveal Körzüt as “The Sacred City of Haldi,” in Urartu Kingdom

Excavations in eastern Türkiye uncover a major religious center of the Urartian Kingdom—The Sacred City of Haldi, shedding new light on ancient Anatolian history.

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence confirming that Körzüt Fortress, located in the Muradiye district of Türkiye’s eastern Van province, was once known as “Haldi Patari,” or “The Sacred City of Haldi,” during the Urartian era. The discovery came after the successful deciphering of cuneiform inscriptions unearthed during excavations at the site.

Led by Dr. Sabahattin Erdoğan, an associate professor from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University’s Department of Archaeology, the ongoing excavations are being carried out with support from Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Van Governorship, and Muradiye District Governorship.

Who Was Haldi?

Haldi was the supreme deity of the Urartian pantheon, worshipped as the god of war, sky, and kingship. Often depicted standing on a lion and holding a weapon, Haldi was considered the divine protector of the Urartian state and its military conquests.

Temples dedicated to Haldi were built in key cities across the kingdom, and his name frequently appeared in royal inscriptions. As the patron god of the royal family, Haldi’s presence symbolized strength, divine legitimacy, and sacred authority—making sites like “Haldi Patari” (The Sacred City of Haldi) deeply significant in both religious and political terms.

Excavations in eastern Türkiye uncover a major religious center of the Urartian Kingdom—The Sacred City of Haldi, shedding new light on ancient Anatolian history.
Excavations in eastern Türkiye uncover a major religious center of the Urartian Kingdom—The Sacred City of Haldi, shedding new light on ancient Anatolian history. Credit: AA

A Fortress with Millennia of Secrets

The Körzüt Fortress, originally built on a rocky hill by Urartian King Minua, has long intrigued researchers. This season’s excavation revealed a host of significant archaeological finds including arrowheads, coins, and both glazed and unglazed ceramic fragments. Yet the most momentous discovery emerged from two basalt stone blocks engraved with six lines of cuneiform script.

“Our interpretation of the inscriptions confirmed the site’s ancient name as ‘Haldi Patari,’ meaning ‘The Sacred City of Haldi,’” said Dr. Erdoğan. “This revelation allows us to fully identify the city’s ancient identity and significance as a major religious center in the Urartian Kingdom.”

The tablets, dating back nearly 3,000 years, mention Haldi—the chief deity of the Urartians—indicating that the area served as a holy sanctuary dedicated to this war and sky god.

Unearthing Temples and Royal Structures

Among the most important findings this year was the discovery of a second temple and the monumental entrance of a “citadel” or palace complex. The excavations also identified key routes connecting the city with surrounding civilian settlements, offering valuable insights into ancient urban planning.

“Identifying the roads leading into the city and the entrance to the citadel gives us a much clearer picture of how this sacred city was structured and accessed,” Erdoğan explained. “Our next steps will include removing debris within the temple and starting a full restoration project.”

In addition to Urartian relics, the team also discovered coins from the 10th century CE and medieval ceramic artifacts, demonstrating the site’s long-term occupation and cultural continuity.

Körzüt—or Haldi Patari—was built with such immense stones that some weigh between 6 and 12 tons.
Körzüt—or Haldi Patari—was built with such immense stones that some weigh between 6 and 12 tons. Credit: AA

Architectural Grandeur: A Testament to Urartian Engineering

Joining the excavation team, Dr. Can Avcı from Istanbul University emphasized the architectural sophistication of Körzüt Fortress. “This was not just any settlement. Körzüt—or Haldi Patari—was built with such immense stones that some weigh between 6 and 12 tons. Constructing walls nearly 9 meters wide with these materials is a feat of ancient engineering,” Avcı noted.

He highlighted that the massive basalt stones were sourced from nearby quarries and transported across uneven terrain, then precisely fitted to form imposing fortifications.

“These structures were designed not only to protect but also to impress,” said Avcı. “They reflected power to the people and posed a clear warning to potential enemies.”

According to Avcı, the fortress walls surrounding the citadel include some of the largest and heaviest stones ever used in Urartian architecture. The durability and static balance of the construction reveal a deep understanding of materials, gravity, and terrain—attributes often overlooked in ancient construction narratives.

Constructing 9-meter-wide walls with multi-ton basalt blocks stands as a remarkable feat of Urartian engineering and architectural mastery. Credit: AA
Constructing 9-meter-wide walls with multi-ton basalt blocks stands as a remarkable feat of Urartian engineering and architectural mastery. Credit: AA

A New Chapter in Anatolian Archaeology

The discovery of Körzüt as Haldi’s sacred city is expected to reshape scholarly understanding of the Urartian Kingdom’s religious and political geography. It also places the Muradiye Plain and the broader Van Lake Basin firmly on the map of major historical and archaeological significance.

For Türkiye and the global archaeological community, these findings are not just about identifying a city—they are about reconnecting with a civilization that once commanded respect and reverence across ancient Anatolia.

As restoration plans move forward, Körzüt Fortress stands poised to become a centerpiece of cultural tourism and a vital window into the powerful legacy of Urartu.

Cover Image Credit: AA

Related Articles

New evidence pushes the origins of the Great Wall back by 300 years

19 February 2025

19 February 2025

Recently discovered evidence from the Changqing district of Jinan, located in East China’s Shandong Province, reveals that the origins of...

Irish archaeologists discover a rare 1,600-year-old idol in the Roscommon bog

13 August 2021

13 August 2021

A 1,600-year-old wooden pagan idol has been discovered in a bog in Co Roscommon by Irish archaeologists. This rare artifact...

Archeologists find a 3,500-year-old mosaic in central Turkey

16 September 2021

16 September 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a 3,500-year-old mosaic in central Turkey, which might be one of the world’s oldest. The impressive power...

5,500-Year-Old ‘Polish Pyramids’ Discovered by Archaeologists in Western Poland

11 July 2025

11 July 2025

Archaeologists in western Poland have uncovered two massive prehistoric structures dubbed the “Poland pyramids,” offering a remarkable glimpse into one...

Ancient Synagogue found in Turkey’s popular tourist center Side

27 December 2021

27 December 2021

A 7th-century ancient synagogue has been found in Side, a resort town on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The synagogue found was...

3,000-year-old necropolis found in southeast of Türkiye

16 October 2023

16 October 2023

A 3,000-year-old necropolis was unearthed during the excavations carried out in the Cehennem Deresi (Hell Creek) in Bağözü village of...

4,000-year-old Snake-Shaped Pottery Handle Found in Taiwan

20 February 2024

20 February 2024

National Tsing Hua University archaeologists in Taiwan have discovered a snake-shaped pottery handle dating back approximately 4000 years. Researchers uncovered...

Sensational Discovery in Kazakhstan: Rare Turko-Sughd Early Medieval Coin Discovered in Almaty Region

24 June 2024

24 June 2024

A sensational discovery was made in the Kogaly Valley, two hours from Almaty, Kazakhstan. For the first time in Kazakhstan,...

Ancient Mesopotamians bred horse-like hybrids

17 January 2022

17 January 2022

New research finds that Mesopotamians were utilizing hybrids of domesticated donkeys and wild asses to drive their war wagons 4,300...

Bone tools for bleeding cows discovered in a 7,000-year-old cemetery in Sudan

24 March 2023

24 March 2023

During excavations in the Letti basin in northern Sudan, archaeologists have unearthed 7,000-year-old bone tools used to bleed cows. Explorers...

First Human Figurine of the Mesolithic Era (Circa 9000 Years Old) Discovered in Azerbaijan’s Damjili Cave

19 April 2025

19 April 2025

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the Damjili Cave in Azerbaijan’s Gazakh district: the first human figurine from the...

Medieval Weapon Chest Found on Sunken Medieval Flagship Gribshunden

20 April 2024

20 April 2024

An extensive exploration of the wreck of the royal flagship Gribshunden has unearthed a trove of new findings: new insights...

3,000-year-old ‘charioteer belt’ discovered in Siberia

21 July 2023

21 July 2023

Russian archaeologists uncovered the grave of a Late Bronze Age man buried wearing a “charioteer’s belt”, a flat bronze plate...

Remarkable discovery of Iron Age and Roman treasures found near a boggy area on Anglesey

29 February 2024

29 February 2024

Metal detectorist Ian Porter unearthed sixteen historical artifacts in a boggy field on Anglesey. Among the items found were Iron...

On the eastern shore of the Marmara Sea, off the coast of Yalova, a 1700-year-old Shipwreck was discovered

23 August 2023

23 August 2023

A 1700-year-old shipwreck was discovered during maritime police training dives in the province of Yalova, located on the east coast...