A monumental basalt statue, dating back to the Urartian period (861 BC – c. 590 BC), has been unearthed from the Tusba district of Van, Türkiye. This massive statue, approximately weighing a ton, was discovered during rescue excavations at Garibin Tepe, and marks the first find of its kind in the area. Measuring approximately 2 meters (6.56 ft) in length and 1 meter (3.28 ft) in width, the statue displays impeccable craftsmanship, though it appears to have sustained some damage, with indications of a broken neck.
Ayanis Castle: The Gift That Now Gives a Monumental Statue
Situated 30 kilometers (18.64 mi) from the Van city center and a mere 3 kilometers (1.86 mi) from the historic Ayanis Castle, the site has proven to be a rich source of historical artifacts. Following its unearthing, the statue was transported to the Van Museum for restoration and further study.
The excavation at Garibin Tepe, conducted in 2023 under the oversight of Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, was led by a team from the Van Museum in collaboration with Professor Mehmet Işıklı, an archaeologist from the Department of Archaeology at Ataturk University, reports Turkiye Today.
Professor Isikli expressed enthusiasm about the discovery, stating, “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… It resembles a figure with…
