Tracing the Millennia-Long Journey of Obsidian from Bitlis to the Levant
A new archaeological project led by Bitlis Eren University (BEU) aims to uncover the ancient trade and cultural pathways that carried obsidian from the volcanic mountains of Bitlis, Türkiye, to the heart of the Middle East thousands of years ago. Obsidian, a naturally occurring volcanic glass, was a prized material in the Neolithic era, used
Excavations at the ancient Kef Castle shed light on the Urartian period
Archaeological excavations at Kef Castle in Bitlis, southeast Turkey, have uncovered animal bones, ceramics, and tools made of flint and obsidian. The castle, one of four built during the reign of Urartian King Rusa II (685-645 B.C.), is located at an altitude of 2,300 meters (7,545 feet). The information that will be obtained during the
Traces of the 5000-year-old Karaz culture have been found in Bitlis
Traces of the 5000-year-old Karaz Culture were discovered during the excavations carried out in the İç Kale in Ahlat district of Bitlis. The Karaz Culture is a culture identified in the research of Soviet archaeologist Boris Kuftin, which exhibited a widespread presence during the Late Chalcolithic and Bronze Age, encompassing the Eastern Anatolian Region, Transcaucasia,