Discovered in northern Turkey: Ancient water storage facilities, religious structure, and subterranean passageway
In the picturesque Bafra district of Samsun, overlooking the Kizilirmak River, lies the ancient fortress of Asarkale. This historical site, dating back to the 5th century B.C., predates the fortress itself by about four centuries.
The open-air sacred temple at Asarkale, contemporary with the Paphlagonian Rock Tombs situated along the Kizilirmak River, has been the focus of extensive excavations. These digs, supported by the Samsun Governorship, the Metropolitan Municipality, and Bafra Municipality, have yielded a wealth of artefacts, including large quantities of projectiles, arrowheads, and coins.
The site's history stretches back much further than the Hellenistic period, with the fortress being built by Pontus King Mithradates VI Eupator. The fortress, strategically located to control trade routes and farmland, was reoccupied during the Byzantine era and continued to be used in the Seljuk period.
Recent excavations, led by Professor Dr. Sümer Atasoy, have uncovered various structures within the fortress. The team has discovered two cisterns, a prison, a furnace, a stepped tunnel, command rooms, and other spaces. Work is ongoing to trace the exit of the stepped tunnel at Asarkale.
Restoration works on the fortress walls are scheduled to begin next month, starting with temporary reinforcements to prevent collapse of the unearthed structures. Hasan Dikmen, head of Bafra Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, has overseen much of the architectural layout of the fortress being revealed within one year.
Following the defeat of Mithradates by the Byzantine Empire, the fortress of Asarkale remained abandoned for a long time. However, the excavations at Asarkale are offering new insights into the region's ancient past, shedding light on the lives of those who once inhabited this historic site.
Associate Professor Kasim Oyarcin of Ondokuz Mayis University serves as the scientific advisor for the Asarkale excavations. The excavations at Asarkale are not only a testament to the rich history of the region but also a valuable resource for future generations to learn from and appreciate.
Nearly 150 projectiles were recovered in burnt condition due to a fire at the site. Kenan Surul, head of the Samsun Archaeology Museum, directs the Asarkale excavations. The findings at Asarkale are contributing significantly to our understanding of the ancient world and the civilizations that once thrived in this region.
