Iron Age Royal city with temples, burial tombs of suspected ancient king discovered in Turkey

[Judi Lynn]

Archaeologists also unearthed a 50-meter-deep tunnel, likely an ancient civilisation's ingenious way to store water.
India Ashok By India Ashok
December 8, 2017 12:03 GMT

Archaelogists have uncovered the ruins of an ancient city, dating back to the Iron Age that once housed temples and burial tombs of what may be ancient kings. The prehistoric city was found in present-day Turkey and reportedly dates back to the ninth century BC Urartian Kingdom.

Archaeologists also reportedly found a 50-meter-deep water tunnel that was likely the ancient civilisation's ingenious way to store water.

The lead researcher, Ömer Faruk Kızılkaya, was reportedly tipped off about rumours of treasure hunters digging for artefacts in the rural areas in the Dumlu neighbourhood, which spurned him to launch a large-scale investigation in the area, the Hurriyet Daily News reported.

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"This is the place where the funeral ceremonies of kings or people, who are highly respected by the public, were performed. We think there is a tomb here that belongs to either a king, ruler, or religious man," Kızılkaya reportedly said. "With simple classification, there are burial chambers made up of one room and ones with more rooms. These were designed especially as a space to be used for the dead in the afterlife by cutting the rocky area, smoothing the rocks and processing them. Even in ancient times, food was left here as a sacrifice for their beliefs."

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http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/iron-age-royal-city-temples-burial-tombs-suspected-ancient-king-discovered-turkey-1650728