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 mᴀssive statue, weighing approximately 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 a carved base, a stylized head, a square prism-shaped body, and indiscernible facial features. It appears monumental. Whether it represents a divine or royal figure is very hard to determine. We even considered if it was a postmodern statue!”

Professor Işıklı went on to explain that the statue is carved from a single block of basalt and showcases a highly stylized form – like many earlier civilizations, the artisans of Urartu were clearly immensely capable. He recalled previous discoveries in the area, including a lion statue found in 1995 during earlier rescue excavations.

A specialized team from Ankara is set to conduct a detailed examination to help determine the exact meaning and symbolism of the statue. With restoration efforts ongoing at the Van Museum, Professor Işıklı is excited to learn more, particularly as sculpture is one of the least understood areas in Urartian archaeology.

“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,” Professor Işıklı remarked.

The Urartu Civilization: An Important Chapter of Eastern Anatolia

The Urartu period flourished between the 9th and 6th centuries BC, spread across Eastern Anatolia, Armenia, and parts of northwestern Iran. Centered around Lake Van, Urartu was unlike many ancient civilizations, defined by its rugged mountainous landscape.

Another Urartian sculpture that has bowled over historians and archaeologists alike is another basalt relief statue depicting the storm god Teisheba, unearthed in Adilcevaz, north of Lake Van. The original statue featured Teisheba standing atop a bull, positioned opposite another figure, with a triple spearhead symbol placed between them. A reconstructed version of this statue is currently displayed at the Erebuni Historical and Archaeological Culture Preserve in Yerevan, Armenia.

In the realm of using labor for creation of physical work, the Urartians were masterful stoneworkers and engineers, creating beautiful forts in the process. In 2022, after a find of an Urartian castle atop the Kara Dağ, archaeologist Professor Çavuşoğlu told Arkeonews, “This is the first time we’ve come across a fortress of this height. I can say it’s the most important fortress we’ve found so far.”