Largest Urartian-era food storage discovered in Turkey

Archaeologists in Turkey’s Van Province have made a sensational discovery: the largest food storage facility from the ancient Urartian kingdom has been uncovered at the Kevenli Fortress. Excavations revealed 76 massive pithoi—clay vessels used between the 9th and 7th centuries BCE to store oil, grain, and beverages. Each vessel was carefully marked with cuneiform inscriptions, indicating a highly organized system of inventory and resource management.

Despite Kevenli Fortress being modest in size compared to other Urartian strongholds, the scale of the findings suggests it played a crucial role in supplying the Van Plain. According to archaeologist Rıfat Kuvanç from Iğdır University, this is the largest storage area ever discovered in the region.

In addition to the storage area, archaeologists uncovered elements of a terracotta water system, fragments of frescoes, and examples of “palace ware”—elegant red ceramics associated with Urartian nobility. One shard features a lion motif, underscoring the symbolic significance of these items.

Kevenli Fortress lies just 10 km from the ancient Urartian capital—Van Fortress (Tushpa), built by King Sarduri I. Its strategic location on the slopes of Mount Erek provided protection for fertile lands and ensured supply routes to the capital.

This discovery confirms that the Urartians were not only skilled warriors and builders but also possessed a sophisticated system of economic management—worthy of an Iron Age civilization.