Largest archaeological settlement of Tunceli province was discovered bearing Armenian writing on ancient stones.
The discovery ofΒ a largeΒ 3000 year oldΒ archaeological settlement in Eastern Turkey has been widely reported in TurkishΒ media,Β last year. The news has reached international audiences through the English translations from sourcesΒ such as theΒ Worldbulletin.
The articleΒ reports:
“3,000-year-old settlement found in eastern Turkey”
Largest archaeological settlement of Tunceli province was discovered
An archaeological settlement dating back to 3,000 years ago was discovered in eastern Tunceli province of Turkey.
Thanks to the efforts of Turkish researcher Serkan Erdogan from Faculty of Science and Letters of Bitlis Eren University, and Culture and Tourism Director of Tunceli Ismet Hakan Ulasoglu, a 3,000-year-old settlement near Rabat hamlet of Cemceli village was discovered.
Being the largest archaeological settlemet of Tunceli, a citadel-like settlement containing overtones of early iron age, Urartian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantium period, Islamic middle age and Ottoman era was predicted to be one of the most important centres situated at an old transportation network.
Having encountered iron dross, ceramics, historical bridge and weight objects, researcher Erdogan thought that the area in question was an important economic production centre in different eras of the history.
Erdogan said that the discovered citadel was wider than three football stadiums.
What the report doesn’t mention however, is thatΒ there are clearly visible old Armenian textsΒ (as is seen in the picture above) inscribed on the ancient stones found at the sight. Whether the Turkish researchers are aware of this or not remains a mystery. Nevertheless the Armenian traces are undeniable.Β Tunceli province (formerly Dersim Province) was historicallyΒ part of theΒ Greater Armenian region of Sophene (Tsopk). Later it was annexed to theΒ ByzantineΒ empireΒ and eventually occupied by the Seljuk Turks. Nonetheless the Armenian population remained thriving up until the first world war.Β After the tragic events of the Armenian Genocide most of the Armenian population has vanished from Eastern Turkey including Dersim Province. Today it is largely populated by theΒ majority Alevi Zaza Kurdish and Sunni Turkish people. YetΒ the Armenian traces are still found among the ruins of the ancient stones.
See bellow for more pictures from the archaeological sight.
Source:Β http://www.worldbulletin.net/haber/122863/3000-year-old-settlement-found-in-eastern-turkey
A.s.t.o.u.n.d.i.n.g.
It’s really great. Thanks for highlighting this information.
Just one notion, if you don’t mind.
It seems that the circular stone on picture is one of two millstones, which you can find in use even today in Armenian villages.
What a wonderful find and great pictures. It really makes you wonder how people lived back then (3,000 years ago!) I love that bridge – it was interesting to see ppl walking over it!
Did you notice that in the article (World Bulletin) whoever they are, they have included Ottoman era with early iron age, Urartian, Hellenistic etc. So wow Ottoman era is going back 3,000 years.
I’m just curious how Armenian writing that was established in 401 AD appears on a 3000 year old settlement ?
You are right, the Armenian writing at the settlement must date somewhere from the middle ages, the settlement itself seems to be older. But this does undoubtedly show Armenian traces at the site which seems to have been lost and forgotten during Turkish rule. Evidently it was inhabited by Armenians. But the article describes Urartian culture which in essence was an early Armenian kingdom, so it is probable that it was indeed an Armenian settlement up until Turkic invasions resulting in the abandonment and subsequent oblivion of the settlement. It would be interesting to search in Armenian archives for the… Read more »
The presence of Armenian inscriptions does not negate the existence of “pre-Alphabet” Armenians, but it does confirm continuous habitation of Armenians.
Paris Herouni writes in “Armenians and Old Armenia” that the Armenian language existed long before Mesrob Mashdots. St. Mesrob revived the sounds (no small feat). If interested, the book is available from Abril Bookstore (they have a website).
Armenian letters were there way before our Mesrop Mashtots found them. They were carved on a mountain, a Perian king was hiding it. Mesrop found him throw some people. He added some letters to the alphabet, he didn’t create our letters. That’s why it says he saw a vision, the letters appeared before him.
[…] 3,000-year-old Settlement in Eastern Turkey reveals Armenian Traces: […]
My greatgrandfather Mardiros was from Dersim. Which is where my grandmother as well may have been born. He came from the village of Baghin also Baghnadun. The village had a citadel and had a natural pool of warm water which was visited by many who felt it could heal them of ailments. My greatgrandfather was friends with some of the local Kurdish Chieftans. The Kurds of Dersim in 1915 were of Armenian Ancestry. This is why they helped a lot of Armenians survive in these mountains. Dersim was the Armenian underground railroad. To this day there are Armenians in these… Read more »
A lot of bad things have happened to us kurds and Armenians in todays turkey. I feel very bad that the original owners of this land of Desim are not here anymore.it is big loss. but never too late! you guys can always come back. it needs a bit of courage nowadays, but things are changing sometimes for worse sometimes for better. Bagin is walking distance from our village. It is beautiful. what I heard from my parents about the name of Desim (that is what we call Dersim) comes from a name of the mountain and a lake on… Read more »
Many Thanks for the article, to Anonymous as well for his greatgrandfather Mardiros’s story.
correction to Alis: Ottoman era does not go back 3000 yrs in that region.
Hello, thank you for your article. I want share this article in my blog : https://dersimetvous.blogspot.com/
Will you give me permission?
Yours faithfully
Yes of course, go ahead!
Thank you so much.