Layard investigated the Urartian site of Toprakkale in 1877, with evidence suggesting he knew of its finds by 1860—not 1881. Layard excavated Ashurbanipal’s palace at Nineveh; Hormuzd Rassam discovered the royal library. Toprakkale suffered major losses of architectural stone, but it is not established that every massive block vanished between 1881 and 1972 or that this was history’s largest archaeological heist. Military use has restricted research at the site. Andesite is generally about 6–7 on the Mohs scale, and its hardness alone does not make it beyond Iron Age stoneworking capabilities.
Toprakkale: Layard investigated the Urartian site before 1881
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Site mentioned
Key facts
- Layard was aware of Toprakkale finds by 1860 and excavated there in 1877; the site cannot reliably be dated to his first discovery or research in 1881.
- Layard excavated Ashurbanipal’s palace at Nineveh; Hormuzd Rassam discovered the royal library in 1852.
- Major losses of architectural stone are documented, but the evidence does not establish that every massive block disappeared between 1881 and 1972 or that this was history’s largest archaeological heist.
- Military use has restricted research at Toprakkale.
- Andesite is generally rated about 6–7 on the Mohs scale; its hardness alone does not place it beyond Iron Age stoneworking 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 ...
Genç, B. 2018 “Archaeology of Destruction: Toprakkale ...academia.edu
Austen Henry Layard's interest in antiquities from the Van region sparked early excavations at Toprakkale in 1877. The provenance of artifacts linked to ...
ARCHAEOLOGY OF DESTRUCTION: TOPRAKKALE | IRAQcambridge.org
by B Genç · 2018 · Cited by 10 — It is possible that as early as 1860 Layard was aware of finds similar to those he purchased in 1877, which eventually triggered the excavations ...
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