Three bronze shields and a bronze helmet dedicated to Haldi, the chief god of the Urartians, have been unearthed during ongoing excavations at Ayanis Castle in eastern Turkey. The discovery was announced by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy via his social media account.

Ayanis Castle, located near Ağartı village on the eastern shore of Lake Van, 38 km from the ancient capital Tuşpa, was built by the last great Urartian king, Rusa II, in the mid-7th century BCE. It is home to one of the most well-preserved temples dedicated to Haldi, the Urartian god of war.

The fortress is believed to have been destroyed by a significant earthquake and fire roughly 20 to 25 years after its construction. Since 1989, archaeological excavations at Ayanis Castle have been underway.

The shields and helmet, remarkably well-preserved, were discovered at a depth of approximately 6 to 7 meters, buried beneath mudbrick walls that had collapsed during an earthquake. The helmet, adorned with decorative elements, is thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes. These artifacts showcase the Urartians’ sophisticated metalworking craftsmanship. The site is believed to have been a residence for members of the royal and religious elite.

Türkiye’nin dört bir yanında gerçekleştirilen ve sürelerini 12 aya çıkardığımız kazı çalışmalarında her geçen gün yeni bir nadide eser gün ışığına kavuşuyor. ⛏️

Anadolu tarihinin kadim uygarlıklarından #Urartu Krallığı’nın son büyük kenti olan ve günümüzden 2 bin 700 yıl… pic.twitter.com/26ON2wSlPN

— Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@MehmetNuriErsoy) September 7, 2024

Minister Ersoy noted that rare artifacts continue to be discovered across Türkiye, thanks to excavation projects that now run year-round. “The newly discovered artifacts reflect the richness of Urartian craftsmanship. I would like to thank our teams from the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums who contributed to bringing these artifacts to light,” Ersoy stated.

These discoveries shed further light on the Urartian civilization, which flourished around 2,700 years ago across regions that are now part of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Armenia.

Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey