Urartu

Preparations have begun for the 3,000-year-old Şamran Irrigation Channel, which was built during the Urartu Kingdom period and is considered a world water engineering wonder, in the eastern province of Van to be included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

A 1,800-year-old sewer system was discovered during archaeological excavations in Amida Mound, described as
"heart of the old city", in the historical Sur district in southeastern Turkey.

Excavations in the Amida Mound, which hosted many civilizations, including Urartians, Persians, Romans, Umayyads, Abbasids, Seljuks, Artuqids and Ottomans, were concluded this year.

With the withdrawal of Lake Van, which is located in the province of Van's Erciş District, the ruins of a port from the Urartu era have come to light.

A distance of approximately 50 meters between the waters of Lake Van and the ruins of the old port has been reported.

Turkish security forces confiscated three kilograms (about 6.61 pounds) of two gold bars on Feb. 14 that dates to the ancient Hittite-Urartu civilizations, in eastern Van province.

Gendarmerie forces searched an intercity bus in the Erciş district as part of historical artifact smuggling operations.

The gold was seized in a passenger's bag on the bus.

An ancient historical site dating back 11,800 years was unearthed in southeastern province of Mardin.
The excavations in Mardin, which has been home to 25 different civilizations including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Urartians, Romans, Abbasids, Seljuks and Ottomans, shed light on history.

The new Urartu Museum building in the south of Van Castle was opened in the eastern province of Van, moving from its former premises after receiving damage during earthquakes that rattled the ancient city on Oct. 23 and Nov. 9, 2011.

Archaeological excavations have been continuing for 30 years in the Ayanis castle, built by the Urartian King Rusa II on a hill overlooking Lake Van in the eastern province of Van. This year's works will focus on revealing the architectural secrets of a 2,700 year-old mystic Haldi temple in the castle.

Police have seized 334 pieces of historical artifacts believed to have belonged to the Urartu period in the eastern province of Van and detained two people in the operation, Demirören News Agency reported on Dec. 30.

A team of archaeologists have unearthed outdoor altar area in eastern Turkey from the Urartu period. Click through for the story in photos...

Archaeological excavations in the Harput Castle in the eastern province of Elazığ have unearthed an Urartian seal.