6,000-Year-Old Sacred Hearths Restored in Türkiye

Two sacred hearths dating back to the Late Chalcolithic – Early Bronze Age (4000-3200 BCE) have been unearthed and meticulously restored following archaeological excavations at Tadım Castle and Mound, located near Tadım Village in the Elazığ province of eastern Türkiye.

Adorned with stylized human and bull figures, these remarkable hearths offer significant insights into the belief systems and social structures of the region approximately 6,000 years ago. Notably, depictions of a father, mother, and child suggest the sanctity of the family unit and its central role in early rituals.

The excavations, led by the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum Directorate under the Elazığ Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, involved expert archaeologists and a technical team. The significant discoveries were made at a depth of about 3 meters in the TK3 area of Tadım Castle.

Elazığ Museum Director Ziya Kılınç provided details about the artifacts, stating, “The room we are in is used as a laboratory by our directorate. Among the artifacts in this room are 12 kitchenware items and these 2 sacred hearths, which were unearthed during the 2024 excavations at Tadım Castle. We date these back 6,000 years because they are artifacts from the Late Chalcolithic – Early Bronze Age, which corresponds to 4000-3200 BCE. They were used in religious rituals approximately 6,000 years ago and were found in 5 pieces.”

Describing the restored sacred hearths, Kılınç added, “Of the sacred hearths whose restoration has been completed and which we will exhibit in the museum we will open in the future, there are 2, one of which is miniature and the other larger. The bull’s head likely symbolizes power, an element used in religious rituals where food was cooked over a fire and then offered as a treat after the religious ceremony.”

Highlighting the potential of the ongoing excavations, Director Kılınç noted, “If we can complete the excavations here, the culture of Elazığ might even go back to the Neolithic period.”

The restored historical artifacts are slated to be displayed to the public upon the opening of the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum. These sacred hearths will constitute an important part of Elazığ’s rich historical and cultural heritage.