6000-Year-Old Unique Sacred Hearth Discovered at Tadım Mound

Archaeologists continuing excavations at Tadım Mound, located in the eastern Turkish province of Elazığ, have discovered two unique decorated sacred hearths dating back 6000 years.

The excavation team also unearthed 12 Karaz pots dating from 4000-3000 BC and a painted pot decorated with mountain goats from 3200 BC, along with the sacred hearths.

Elazığ Governor Numan Hatipoğlu shared the following information about the excavations and finds at Tadım Mound, also known as Tadım Castle, on his social media account.

The excavations carried out by the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum have unearthed numerous artifacts dating from the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Ages.

The excavations revealed 12 Karaz pots dating from 4000-3000 BC, a painted pot decorated with mountain goats from 3200 BC, and 2 unique sacred hearths decorated with bull motifs, also dating from 4000-3000 BC. The sacred hearths, estimated to be 6000 years old, provide us with important clues about the region’s religious beliefs and social life. In ancient times, when fire was considered sacred, these hearths are thought to have been used in religious rituals and to represent the family.

31 artifacts obtained from the excavations were sent to the Diyarbakır Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory Directorate for restoration and conservation. The most remarkable pieces among these artifacts are the 6000-year-old sacred hearths. After the restoration process is completed, these artifacts will be exhibited at the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum and presented to the public.

The discovery of 6 different cultural layers belonging to the Ottoman, Seljuk, Eastern Roman, Early-Late Iron Age, Late-Middle-Early Bronze Age, Late Chalcolithic, and Neolithic periods at the excavation site, run by the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, shows that the region has been used as a continuous settlement area for thousands of years. The wall remains and ceramic pieces unearthed in these layers reveal the strategic importance and rich cultural heritage of Tadım Mound.