Archaeologists have discovered a basalt stone statue from the Urartian period, the predecessor of Armenian civilization, weighing approximately one ton during excavations in Historic Armenia’s Van region, which was known as Tushpa, the capital of Urartu, during the Urartian era, reports Arkeonews.
In 2023, archaeologists uncovered the first monumental statue of its kind in the region during rescue excavations at Garibin Tepe. This remarkable find, measuring roughly 2 meters long and 1 meter wide, was located at a historical site only 3 kilometers from Ayanis Castle and 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from the city center.
This year’s excavation focused on the southern portion of the hill and was led by Van Museum under the scientific direction of Professor Mehmet Işıklı from the Department of Archaeology at Atatürk University.
Professor Isikli stated, “This is a monumental three-dimensional statue that we have never encountered before. We are very excited, and after preliminary studies, we hope to gain more detailed information after the initial studies.” He noted the statue’s impressive size and craftsmanship, mentioning that it is believed to have a broken neck. “This is a statue carved as a solid block. We cannot say anything definitive at the moment about what it represents, as it is highly stylized, approximately 2 meters long and 1 meter wide, and monumental. Whether it represents a divine or royal figure is very hard to determine. We even considered if it was a postmodern statue.”
Isikli explained that the Urartian civilization remains one of the least understood due to its limited known sculptural works. “In Urartian art, there are very limited works related to plastic arts, namely sculpture. We are working with only a few examples. In metal or stone, we don’t have much data in terms of sculpture. In this regard, pieces of an object related to a lion statue were previously found in the excavation area. This year, however, we encountered a find that surprised us greatly”a striking example of Urartian plastic art made of basalt was unearthed.”
Referencing earlier finds in the region, Isikli mentioned a lion statue discovered in 1995 during rescue excavations, which he said broadened the understanding of the Urartians’ creative practices. “It resembles a figure with a carved base, a stylized head, a square prism-shaped body, and indiscernible facial features. It appears monumental.”
The Professor stated, “The statue is being transported to the Van Museum, where preliminary studies and interventions will take place. After restoration, we will gain more insight. It is a striking find in an area with very few unique Urartian artifacts.”
Emphasizing the importance of Garibin Tepe as an archaeological site, Isikli stated that the discovery makes a significant contribution to the Urartian heritage in Turkey. After detailed examination by a team from Ankara, the mystery of the basalt statue is expected to be further unraveled.
