22 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Unique 6,000-Year-Old Sacred Hearths and Karaz Pottery Discovered at Tadım Mound in Elazığ

Archaeological excavations at Tadım Castle and Tadım Mound (Tadım Höyük), located within the borders of Tadım Village in Elazığ, continue to uncover significant findings that illuminate the region’s history. The excavations conducted by the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum have revealed numerous artifacts dating back to the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages.

The discoveries were announced by Elazığ Governor Numan Hatipoğlu through his social media account, highlighting the significance of these findings in shedding light on the region’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

Tadım Mound, located in Elazığ, Türkiye, is an important archaeological site that dates back to the Neolithic period and has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years. The mound is part of a larger cultural landscape that reflects the region’s rich history and diverse civilizations, including the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages.

The village, known as Dadíma in the records of Georgios Kiprios from 610 and as Tadem in Armenian sources from 1628, served as the administrative center of the 4th Armenian Province of the Byzantine Empire. Located in the Elazığ Province and lying within the ancient province of Sophene, Tadım is believed to have functioned as the capital of the Roman province of Fourth Armenia.

Among the discoveries are twelve Karaz pottery pieces dating to 4000-3000 BC, a painted pot adorned with mountain goat motifs from 3200 BC, and two unique sacred hearths featuring bull decorations, also dating back to 4000-3000 BC. These sacred hearths, estimated to be 6,000 years old, provide crucial insights into the region’s religious beliefs and social life. It is believed that in ancient times, when fire was considered sacred, these hearths were used in religious rituals and represented the family.

Credit: Elazığ Governor Numan Hatipoğlu

The excavation site has also revealed six different cultural layers from the Ottoman, Seljuk, Eastern Roman, Early-Late Iron Age, Late-Middle-Early Bronze Age, Late Chalcolithic, and Neolithic periods. The wall remnants and ceramic fragments uncovered in these layers indicate that the region has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years.

Protecting the 6,000-Year-Old Sacred Hearths

Thirty-one artifacts unearthed during the excavations have been sent to the Diyarbakır Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory Directorate for restoration and conservation processes. Among these artifacts, the two 6,000-year-old sacred hearths stand out. Once restoration is completed, these artifacts will be exhibited at the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum for the public to appreciate.

Excavations Set to Resume

The excavation works at Tadım Castle and Mound, conducted by the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, are planned to resume in the coming days, provided that weather conditions remain within seasonal norms. Archaeologists will continue their efforts to gather more information about the region’s history and uncover new findings.

These discoveries not only provide new insights into the ancient history of Anatolia but also highlight Elazığ’s significance as an archaeological center. Furthermore, it is believed that these efforts will greatly contribute to the region’s tourism potential.

The commitment to preserving and revealing the rich cultural heritage of the province will continue.

Cover Image Credit: Elazığ Governor Numan Hatipoğlu’s social media account.

Related Articles

Ancient coins surface with Lake Iznik’s withdrawal in Türkiye

2 May 2023

2 May 2023

With the withdrawal of Lake Iznik in the northwest of Türkiye, the ancient coins found at the bottom of the...

4,000-year-old War Memorial of Banat-Bazi in Syria

28 May 2021

28 May 2021

Archaeologists have identified a memorial monument built before 2300 BC in the Banat-Bazi region in Syria. Known as the “White...

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...

Viking Dentistry Was Surprisingly Advanced And Not Unlike Today’s Treatments

15 December 2023

15 December 2023

Viking Age teeth at Varnhem indicate surprisingly advanced dentistry, according to the results of a study conducted at the University...

An archaeological dig at Govan Old Churchyard revealed a remarkable new find: an early medieval ‘Govan Warrior’ stone

19 September 2023

19 September 2023

An archaeological excavation in the churchyard at Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow, a port city on the River Clyde...

The Headless Corpses of Somersham was Victims of Roman Executions

30 May 2021

30 May 2021

Excavations at Knobb’s Farm in Somersham, Cambridgeshire, unearthed three small late Roman graves on the outskirts of an agricultural village....

“If this site (Sharda temple)is restored and conserved, it will attract thousands of Hindus and Buddhists from Kashmir and the rest of the world”

7 August 2021

7 August 2021

Sharda Peeth, a historic learning institution located 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Muzaffarabad, the capital and largest city of Pakistan-administered...

The 8,000-year-old Aslantepe in Turkey has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List

26 July 2021

26 July 2021

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Monday that a rich, 30-meter-high archaeological mound going back 8,000 years in southern Turkey has...

A stunning fresco depicting Helen of Troy is revealed during excavations at the ancient Roman city

11 April 2024

11 April 2024

Archeologists have uncovered remarkably preserved ‘fresco’ paintings on a wall in the banqueting room of a large house along Via...

The Enchanting Ancient City of Rome “Sagalassos”

18 May 2021

18 May 2021

The archaeological site of Sagalassos is a very important and well-preserved settlement located in a magnificent mountain landscape, 7 km north...

Impressive proof of technology transfer in Antiquity times “2700 year- old a Leather Armor”

20 July 2022

20 July 2022

Design and construction details of the unique leather-scaled armor found in a horse rider’s tomb in northwest China indicate that...

A previously unknown subterranean tract of an Augustan-era aqueduct has been rediscovered in Naples

4 February 2023

4 February 2023

A previously unknown subterranean tract nearly half a mile long of an Augustan-era aqueduct has been rediscovered in Naples, southern...

“Cardiff’s earliest house” unearthed during an archaeological dig may shed light on the city’s earliest inhabitants

15 July 2022

15 July 2022

Archaeological excavation in a city park in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, has uncovered what is believed to be the...

High school student discovered a 1500-year-old ancient Magical Mirror

9 August 2023

9 August 2023

 A High school student discovered an ancient “magical mirror” meant to ward off the evil eye in an archaeological excavation...

1,600-year-old fragment Of Enigmatic Roman Artifact Discovered In Belgium

17 February 2023

17 February 2023

A metal detectorist in Belgium discovered a piece of a mysterious bronze artifact known as a Roman dodecahedron, which is...