26 May 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Remains of the summer palace of Genghis Khan’s grandson, Hulagu Khan, found in eastern Turkey

The archeology study team, consisting of Turkish and Mongolian scientists, found important findings in the study carried out to find the summer palace and city ruins thought to have been built by the Mongol Ilkhanid State ruler Hulagu Khan in the Çaldıran district of Van in the 1260s.

Hulagu Khan was a Mongol ruler who conquered much of Western Asia. He is also the grandson of Genghis Khan, who is famous for not losing any war he entered. Hulagu Khan is the founder of the Ilkhanid state.

Under the chairmanship of İzmir Katip Çelebi University (İKÇÜ) Turkish-Islamic Archeology Department Head Professor Ersel Çağlıtütuncigil, Mongolian State University Faculty Member of History Department and Director of İKÇÜ-MUIS Turcology Research Institute Dr. Ankbayar Danuu and a team of Turkish and Mongolian historians, archaeologists, Sinologists, and Turcologists, they found new findings about the ruins of the summer palace of Hulagu Khan, which is mentioned in ancient Persian and Armenian historical sources, between 1261 and 1265.

The team first examined the artifacts found in the Van Museum, which were found to be used in the palace, which is thought to have been built by the Ilkhanid ruler Hulagu Khan. Concentrating their work in the region where the artifacts are thought to be found, the team uncovered the remains of a caravanserai and a ceramic kiln, which they think may belong to the Ilkhanate period.

Professor Ersel Çağlıtütuncigil, Head of the Department of Turkish-Islamic Archeology at Izmir Katip Çelebi University, said, “ With the knowledge and experience of the team from Mongolia, we noticed that some of the artifacts were roof tiles belonging to the Mongolian Ilkhanate State during the examinations we made in the museum. We conducted research based on where these tiles came from in the museum. In fact, we are trying to reach a whole by combining some clues like the detective. We believe that we have reached an important conclusion with the data we have obtained,” he said.

Stating that they saw many examples of roof tiles scattered over the area and found a caravanserai, Ersel Çağlıtütuncigil said, “There are some building remains here, probably showing that there was a city. For now, research shows that the settlement spread to the east of the caravanserai. As a matter of fact, we encountered intense ceramic finds in that region. It is possible to see similar roof tiles, which are among the ceramics we found, in the inventory of the Van Museum. More importantly, we see exact examples of these roof tiles in Mongolia (Karakorum).”

Photograph İzmir Katip Çelebi University

It is mentioned that Hulagu Khan had a church built for his wife in the region

“As far as we know, this type of roof tiles does not exist in Anatolia. Therefore, these data show us that there is a direct Ilkhanid structure in Anatolia. Also, we think that there should be a Buddhist temple here. An artifact in the museum inventory also supports this view. The Mongols were also building a Buddhist temple along with the palace. Sources say that Hülagü Khan had a church built for his wife, Dokuz Hatun.”

“Probably that church is around here too. He must also have built a mosque for Muslims living in the region. Beyond the caravanserai, there is a kiln where the ceramics were fired and many building remains that we have not yet made sense of.”

Çağlıtütuncigil stated that they evaluated the summer palace built by Hülagü Khan to be in the same region.

Roof tile pieces from the Mongolian Ilkhanate period in the region Photograph İzmir Katip Çelebi University

Director of Turcology Research Institute Dr. Danuu Ankbayar said, “To date, the ruins of palaces of three Mongol Khans, including the palace of Kublai Khan in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, the summer palace of Ambaghai Khan in Iran and Sarai city of the Golden Horde, were found. This time, we discovered the fourth palace. It is believed that it was a palace city with an area of ​​at least 1200×1200 meters. Archeological research excavations are planned to be carried out in cooperation with Turkish scientists,”  adding that it is necessary to prepare for the excavations within the legal framework, and he asked the Chairman to support this at the decision-making level.

The researchers said that the model of the city of Kharkhorum was probably used in terms of building design and architectural arrangement. The construction of a Buddhist temple and the involvement of Buddhist sculptors and artisans in the decoration of the palace increase the possibility that the palace is Mongolian in nature. The preliminary observation of the research team revealed the remains of blue and green pottery of the Ilkhanate period, as well as the remains of wall-patterned pottery.

Related Articles

Evidence of a Roman shrine dating back was discovered during dig at Leicester Cathedral

7 March 2023

7 March 2023

Excavations by the University of Leicester archaeologists for have uncovered evidence that the site of Leicester Cathedral has been used...

Farmer was Discovers 2600-year-old Stone Slab of Pharaoh Apries

19 June 2021

19 June 2021

The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities announced that a farmer in Ismailia, Egypt, uncovered a 2,600-year-old stone monument erected by Pharaoh...

Baptismal font from the Ottonian period discovered: Oldest evidence of a quatrefoil-shaped basin north of the Alps

19 March 2024

19 March 2024

The site of a font of the medieval Ottonian dynasty, from the tenth century, has been discovered in the crypt...

4,000-year-old settlement found during Balasore town India

9 July 2021

9 July 2021

A 4,000-year-old settlement and ancient artifacts have been discovered in the Balasore district, India. The Odisha Institute for Maritime and...

Trier University’s Digital Coin Cabinet is Now Accessible

19 February 2024

19 February 2024

Historical coins are much more than just pieces of jewelry for collections and exhibitions and are of particular interest for...

A 4000-Year-Old Trading Port was Discovered in Istanbul

4 May 2021

4 May 2021

Archaeological excavations carried out on a peninsula in the middle of Istanbul Küçükçekmece Lake unearthed a very important 4,000-year-old trade...

One of the greatest gold treasures in Danish history found in Vindelev

6 September 2021

6 September 2021

Near the town of Jelling in Denmark, one of the biggest treasures ever found dating from the sixth century has...

New Study reveals how England’s ‘White Queen’ worshipped a disembowelled saint at the Chapel of St Erasmus

5 December 2022

5 December 2022

A new study reveals the story of how England’s “White Queen”, Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV, once worshipped at...

Remarkable Roman Villa Full of Strange Artifacts Discovered from a Bronze Age Site in England

3 April 2024

3 April 2024

Archaeologists have uncovered a “richly decorated” remarkable Roman villa complex during excavations at Brookside Meadows in Grove, a village in...

1100-Year-Old Rare Sealed Amphora Discovered on Shipwreck off Türkiye Coast

27 April 2025

27 April 2025

Underwater excavations near Kaş, Antalya, on Turkey’s southwestern coast, have yielded fascinating insights into ancient Mediterranean seafaring and trade. A...

Ice Age Cave Entrance that Nobody has Entered for 16,000 Years found in Germany

4 August 2023

4 August 2023

Researchers report they have discovered the official entrance to an Ice Age cave near Engen, Germany, that nobody has entered...

2,300 Years Old First Complete Ancient Celtic Village and Roman Settlement Discovered in Munich

22 October 2023

22 October 2023

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Celtic village and evidence of a smaller Roman settlement in Munich, Germany. The 2,300-year-old Celtic...

Discoveries on the island of Minorca shed light on the history of Roman conquests in the Balearic Islands

31 July 2021

31 July 2021

The University of Alicante Institute for Archeology and Historical Heritage (INAPH) Researchs discovered a collection of buried Roman antiquities going...

1,800 years old Sewer system found in ancient city of Mastaura

17 May 2022

17 May 2022

Archaeologists found an 1800-year-old sewer system during excavations in the ancient city of Mastaura, in the Nazilli district of Aydın...

Archeological study shows unearthed Byzantine warrior had gold-threaded jaw

30 September 2021

30 September 2021

A Byzantine warrior who was beheaded after the Ottomans captured his fort in the 14th century had a jaw threaded...