New Discoveries at the Urartian Necropolis Found in Van

Excavations continue at the necropolis site located at Chavushtepe Fortress, 26 km from the city of Van (known in Armenian as Sardurikhini or Haykaberd), according to Ermenihaber. After three years of ongoing excavations, researchers have uncovered burial sites dating back 2,750 years, revealing four distinct burial methods used in this region of the Urartian state.

The first method involves cremation, with ashes placed in a pot for burial. The second method includes tombs, while the third consists of graves resembling ornamental chambers. The fourth method involves interring the deceased directly in the ground.

Recently, a fifth burial method has been discovered during the ongoing excavations. Graves found within a 50 square meter area are almost entirely constructed from sandstone, suggesting that this fifth method was used for the burial of officials.

According to the Turkish professor overseeing the work, this is the first time they have encountered Urartian graves with standing gravestones. Chavushoğlu also mentioned that burials in these types of graves have been conducted using both cremation methods and traditional burial practices.

According to tradition, Haykaberd is the location where the patriarch Hayk founded the settlement of Hayq following a victorious battle against Bel. Later, the Armenian king of Van, Sarduri II, constructed the fortress and named it Sardurikhini.