The Van region's first archaeological site, Toprakkale, was discovered in 1881 by Austen Henry Layard (the same researcher who excavated Ashurbanipal's library). It featured massive andesite blocks beneath Urartian mudbrick. Between 1881 and 1972, every single massive stone block mysteriously vanished, what researchers call the largest archaeological heist in history. Today the site sits under a military base, closed to researchers.
Toprakkale: First Van region site discovered in 1881, stonework mysteriously removed
AfghanistanGeneral
Site mentioned
Key facts
- First archaeological site discovered in the Van region, with research beginning in 1881
- Discovered by Austin Henry Layard, the same archaeologist who found the Ashurbanipal library in Mesopotamia
- Features massive andesite stone blocks at the base beneath Urartian mudbrick on top
- All massive stone blocks were mysteriously removed between 1881 and 1972, described as the largest archaeological heist in history
- Currently occupied by a military base, inaccessible to researchers
- Andesite is 7-7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, beyond Iron Age tool capabilities
Sources
Van Fortressturkisharchaeonews.net
Standing on a steep hill overlooking the waters of Van Lake, Van Fortress is the sight to remember. It used to be the seat of the Urartian ...
Toprakkale (Van) | KÜRE Encyclopediakureansiklopedi.com
Toprakkale is an ancient settlement built on a rocky hill in the northeast of Van Province. This area belonged to the Urartians, ...
Toprakkale (castle)en.wikipedia.org
Rusahinili modern Toprakkale (Turkey), is an ancient Urartian fortress built by Rusa I, located near the modern city of Van in eastern Turkey.
(PDF) ARCHAEOLOGY OF DESTRUCTION: TOPRAKKALEresearchgate.net
by B Genç · 2018 · Cited by 9 — Toprakkale is the site that constitutes the starting point for the archaeology of Urartu, Van region attracted the interest of Austen Henry ...
Van Archeology and Ethnography Museumthe-past.com
The new Van Museum features a wealth of archaeological material from around the region. ... site of Göbekli Tepe and its surrounding area ...
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