A Phrygian king's tomb has been unearthed in the Gordion Ancient City in Ankara.
1 / @golahura
A Phrygian king's tomb has been unearthed in the Gordion Ancient City in Ankara.
An extraordinarily well-preserved cremation tomb from the Phrygian period was unearthed during excavations in the Gordion Ancient City in the Polatlı district of Ankara. This monumental burial structure, dating back to the 8th century BC, is thought to have belonged to a king or high-ranking administrator.
This wooden-constructed tomb chamber, measuring 3.1 meters by 2.8 meters in the "T26" tumulus, the 47th tumulus excavated in the ancient city, presented remarkable findings that shed light on Phrygian burial traditions and the political history of Gordion.
More than 100 Artifacts in a Cremation Tomb
The tumulus, which is approximately 60 meters in diameter and 8 meters high, is among the medium-sized Phrygian tomb structures. As a result of systematic excavations that lasted four months, over 100 archaeological artifacts were unearthed in the wooden-construction burial chamber. 88 of these were made of bronze and iron and were evaluated as museum-worthy. The artifacts include large cauldrons, tripod pots, incense burners and a striking bronze jug.
The linen cover on this jug has survived to the present day almost miraculously. The fact that organic linen has been preserved thanks to the corrosion protection of bronze makes this artifact unique. Gordion Coordinating Excavation Director Prof. Dr. Yücel Şenyurt states that this find is one of the rare textile examples in Anatolia that has survived to the present day in this robustness.
Şenyurt, who stated that a 12x12 meter work was carried out in the excavation area, emphasizes that the wooden-construction burial chamber collapsed over time due to the pressure of the stone and soil on it, but that many artifacts inside were surprisingly well-preserved.
One of the most striking aspects of the Tumulus is that the burial method was cremation. Şenyurt emphasizes that this tomb is the oldest example of cremation to have been unearthed in Gordion to date and dates back to 750 BC.
The ashes of the deceased and rich belongings left next to him were also found in the tomb. The findings suggest that the person was not an ordinary person; he was a high-status person, perhaps a royal member.
Does the Tumulus Belong to Someone from Midas' Family?
According to Gordion Excavation Director Prof. Dr. Charles Brian Rose, this tomb belongs to a similar time period as the famous Midas Tumulus. The type of artifacts and the monumentality of the tomb strengthen the possibility that the person buried here could be Midas' father or a member of his family. In particular, the fact that this type of cremation practice was chosen at a time when the dead were not generally cremated makes the status of the person buried even more interesting.
Rose states that the structure and types of the artifacts found are similar to those in the Midas Tumulus, and emphasizes that this is the only example of a cremation burial from the 8th century.
As stated by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the conservation of 47 of the 88 artifacts excavated has been completed and delivered to the Gordion Museum. Work on the burial chamber and on-site display of the artifacts will be completed this year. Minister Ersoy emphasizes that the excavations are important not only for scientific discoveries, but also for the economy of the region and awareness of cultural heritage.
There is Much More to Discover in Gordion
Gordion excavations have been ongoing for 75 years, but according to Prof. Dr. Şenyurt, the size of the areas that have not yet been explored is much larger than the excavated areas. This shows that Gordion will be the scene of great discoveries in the future. Drawing attention to the potential of the excavations with the words, “Every excavation season means a new discovery,” Şenyurt says that the richness of Gordion is still hidden below the surface.