Experts question claim that Alexander the Great's half-brother is buried at Vergina

eurekalert.org

The tomb was discovered during the excavation of a large mound – the Great Tumulus – at Vergina in 1977. Along with many treasures including ceremonial military equipment, bronze utensils, silver tableware, and gold wreaths, the tomb contained two sets of skeletal remains. Those of a man were found in a gold casket in the main chamber and those of a woman in a smaller gold casket in the second chamber. Both individuals had been cremated and evidence of a wooden funerary house containing a pyre was also found near the tomb.

Dr Jonathan Musgrave of the University of Bristol's Centre for Comparative and Clinical Anatomy and colleagues argue that evidence from the remains is not consistent with historical records of the life, death and burial of Arrhidaios, a far less prominent figure in the ancient world than his father Philip II.

The male skull appears to have a healed fracture on the right cheekbone and a marked asymmetry in the wall of the right maxillary sinus. History records that Philip II lost his right eye at the siege of Methone in 355-4 BC – an injury which would be consistent with this damage to the skeleton.

The colour and fracture lines of the bones suggest they were cremated 'green' (with flesh still around them) rather than 'dry' (after the flesh had been decomposed by burial). Arrhidaios was murdered in the autumn of 317 BC; his remains, some suggest, were subsequently exhumed and reburied between four and 17 months later. However, the existence of the funeral pyre indicates that the bodies were cremated at Vergina. As Greek beliefs would never have countenanced contact with a decomposing corpse, Arrhidaios would not have been exhumed, moved and then cremated 'green'.

From the historical account of their deaths and committals, it is thought that Arrhidaios was buried along with his wife Eurydice and her mother Kynna. However, the tomb contains remains from only two individuals. The female remains belong to a woman aged between 20 and 30 whereas Eurydice seems to have been no more than 19 years old when she died.

Dr Musgrave said: "The aim of this paper is not to press the claims of Philip II and his wife Cleopatra but to draw attention to the flaws in those for Philip III Arrhidaios and Eurydice. We do not believe that the condition of the bones and the circumstances of their interment are consistent with descriptions of the funeral of Arrhidaios, his wife and his mother-in-law."

Inscriptions found in ancient Pompeipolis city in Turkey

WorldBulletin

New inscriptions were unearthed during excavations in Pompeipolis ancient city in Taskopru in the northern province of Kastamonu.

Prof. Dr. Christian Marek, who has been examining inscriptions uncovered in Pompeipolis, told the AA correspondent that inscriptions were about festivals of Roman era.

Marek said that according to inscriptions, Roman emperors also participated in these festivals, most of which were religious. Marek said several competitions, shows and plays had been held within the scope of these festivals which had been started by Roman Emperor Alexander Severus.

Prof. Latife Summerer, a lecturer from Munich University, said that information on inscriptions were important and more would be uncovered in excavations in the ancient city.

The antique city of Pompeipolis is situated in the county of Taskopru of the province of Kastamonu. According to the historical records, the Romans after winning the battle against Mitridates. Pontus Pilate and his army in the northern valley of Gökirmak in 64 B.C. settled in this region. The Roman commander Pompeius built a city out of scratch on Zimbilli Hill and called the city Pompeipolis.

The antique city of Pompeipolis was discovered by Pascal T. Fourcade, who was the French consul during 1802 to 1812 at Sinop. It is claimed by the American and European archaeologists that the antique city of Pompeipolis is wealthier and bigger than the antique city of Ephesus in Izmir. The giant columns and the mosaic decorations found in the excavations conducted for the first time in 1910 in the antique city of Pompeipolis, remaining from the Byzantine era, were destroyed in the reconstruction of the town of Taskopru after four-thirds of the town was damaged by fire in the year 1927. The historical artifacts found in the excavations conducted by the governorate of Kastamonu in 1974 were placed in the Kastamonu Archaeological Museum for safekeeping. The excavation of Pompeipolis started again in the year 2006 under the leadership of Dr. Latife Summerer of the German Munich University.

As the archaeological excavation of Pompeipolis continues, a town museum or an archaeological museum must be built in Taskopru to protect and exhibit the artifacts discovered. With the historical artifacts to be discovered, the antique city of Pompeipolis will be the door opening the Black Sea to the world. If the antique city is well promoted and if the necessary investments for tourist visits are made, Pompeipolis, just like Ephesus and Zeugma, will become the symbol of the Black Sea within a short period of time and its name will take place among the sites to be visited in international tourism.

World's oldest palace Aslantepe Tumulus in Turkey to be open air museum

WorldBulletin

The oldest palace of the world which is in Aslantepe Tumulus dated back to 5,000 B.C. in eastern province of Malatya will become an open air museum.

Prof. Marcella Frangipane, Lecturer of Italian La Spienza University and chief of excavations in Aslantepe, told A.A correspondent that the adobe palace, dated back to the 3300 B.C., was the oldest palace of the world.

Frangipane said they aimed at showing how the state started and how the city system was to the humanity. He also said a road would be constructed to bring the tourists to the museum.

The Professor said the museum could be opened next June, noting there would be a guide to give information about the museum.

Frangipane said the palace was demolished after a fire noting they covered the ceiling of the palace with a roof. "The palace is comprised of a complex structure formed by different rooms. We constructed a roof on every building forming the palace. People looking from the roof can see old buildings. Restoration continues at points to protect the walls of the palace," he said.

"The project will be concluded this year. Only details remained. The excavation team prepared the project. We want the palace to remain as original," Frangipane said.

Frangipane said there were archeological layers at the bottom of the palace, noting that they were careful in protecting those layers.

"The roof is very heavy. There is heavy snow in Malatya in winter. As there will be the load of winter, all the legs carrying the roof are made up of iron and metal," he said.

"The civilization of those times ended with a fire. All the findings were left at the bottom of the palace. The findings unearthed in excavations are in Malatya museum.

The seals unearthed in excavations reveal that there was bureaucracy at those times and the state system started. There were many civil servants," Frangipane said.

Frangipane said the first palace was not only a temple but there were several other buildings there, "there are warehouses, a court, corridors and a temple."

Frangipane said the palace in Aslantepe Tumulus was important for the whole humanity.

New findings in Turkey's Smyrna Ancient City excavations

WorldBulletin

Archeologists unearthed two new findings during excavations in Smyrna Ancient City in Turkey's western province of Izmir.

A bath belonging to Roman period, and the head of a statue dating back to 2nd century A.D. were unearthed during excavations which are pursued by Dokuz Eylul University and Culture & Tourism Ministry, and supported by TOTAL.

Archeologists unearthed a part of "caldarium" and also found "hypocaust system" of the bath.

The ancient city is located at two sites within Izmir. While the first site, likely to have started as a native foundation, rose to prominence during the Archaic Period as one of the principal ancient Greek settlements in western Anatolia, the second, whose foundation is associated with Alexander the Great, reached metropolitan proportions especially during the period of the Roman Empire, from which time and particularly from after a 2nd century AD earthquake, most of the present-day remains date.

Ancient fountain in Turkey met with water after centuries

WorldBulletin

A historical fountain, which is one of the major artifacts of an ancient city located in Turkey's western Burdur province, was re-opened after a restoration process that lasted 13 years.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Sagalassos ancient city to mark the opening of the 1,800 year-old "Antoninen Nymphaeum", Turkish Culture & Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay said all the historical artifacts on Turkish territory, regardless of the eras they belonged to, were the heritage of Anatolia.

"Today, without separating one from another, we are trying to protect all the artifacts just like Sagalassos and to carry them to future as the common property of humanity," Gunay said.

Delivering a speech at the gathering, Marc Waelkens, who has been the head of the excavations at Sagalassos for 25 years, said that he had given all his energy and health to this ancient city.

"However, Sagalassos made me experience the most beautiful days of my life," the archaeologist said.

The restoration process of the historical fountain "Antoninen Nymphaeum" was carried out jointly by Turkish gas distributor Aygaz, Belgium's Leuven University and several Belgian institutions.

The 28-meter wide and 9-meter tall fountain collapsed after a major earthquake around the year 650.

The restoration work at the ancient site started in 1998, and after nearly 13 years, the fountain met with water again.

World's oldest palace Aslantepe Tumulus in Turkey to be open air museum

WorldBulletin

The oldest palace of the world which is in Aslantepe Tumulus dated back to 5,000 B.C. in eastern province of Malatya will become an open air museum.

The oldest palace of the world which is in Aslantepe Tumulus dated back to 5,000 B.C. in eastern province of Malatya will become an open air museum.

Prof. Marcella Frangipane, Lecturer of Italian La Spienza University and chief of excavations in Aslantepe, told A.A correspondent that the adobe palace, dated back to the 3300 B.C., was the oldest palace of the world.

Frangipane said they aimed at showing how the state started and how the city system was to the humanity. He also said a road would be constructed to bring the tourists to the museum.

The Professor said the museum could be opened next June, noting there would be a guide to give information about the museum.

Frangipane said the palace was demolished after a fire noting they covered the ceiling of the palace with a roof. "The palace is comprised of a complex structure formed by different rooms. We constructed a roof on every building forming the palace. People looking from the roof can see old buildings. Restoration continues at points to protect the walls of the palace," he said.

"The project will be concluded this year. Only details remained. The excavation team prepared the project. We want the palace to remain as original," Frangipane said.

Frangipane said there were archeological layers at the bottom of the palace, noting that they were careful in protecting those layers.

"The roof is very heavy. There is heavy snow in Malatya in winter. As there will be the load of winter, all the legs carrying the roof are made up of iron and metal," he said.

"The civilization of those times ended with a fire. All the findings were left at the bottom of the palace. The findings unearthed in excavations are in Malatya museum.

The seals unearthed in excavations reveal that there was bureaucracy at those times and the state system started. There were many civil servants," Frangipane said.

Frangipane said the first palace was not only a temple but there were several other buildings there, "there are warehouses, a court, corridors and a temple."

Frangipane said the palace in Aslantepe Tumulus was important for the whole humanity.

Turkish archeologists find 4,000 year-old trade deal in Anatolia

WorldBulletin

Archeologists have unearthed the tablets of first written trade agreement in Anatolia.

Professor Cahit Gunbatti of Ankara University's Faculty of Letters, History and Geography said the first written trade agreement in Anatolia was made 4,000 years ago.

"We have discovered the cuneiform-script tablets in Kultepe-Karum excavations in (the Central Anatolian province of) Kayseri," Gunbatti told AA correspondent.

Archeologists have been carrying out excavations in Karum hamlet near Kultepe tumulus, where Assyrians used to live, since 1948. They have unearthed some 23,000 cuneiform-script tablets so far.

"Around 4,500 tablets have been smuggled abroad since 1948," Gunbatti said. Gunbatti said Assyrian tradesmen who settled in the region 4,000 years ago sold the tin and fabrics they brought from Mesopotamia.

The two tablets indicated that the oldest trade agreement in Anatolia was made 4,000 years ago, Gunbatti said.

"The Assyrian Kingdom in Mesopotamia made written trade agreements with Kanesh Kingdom and Hahhum Kingdom near Adiyaman," he said.

Kultepe is a modern village near the ancient city of Kanesh, located in Kayseri.

Kanesh, inhabited continuously from the Chalcolithic period down to Roman times, flourished most strongly as an important merchant colony (karum) of the Old Assyrian kingdom, from ca. 20th to 16th centuries BC. A late (c 1400 BC) witness to an old tradition includes a king of Kanesh called Zipani among seventeen local city-kings who rose up against the Akkadian Naram-Sin (ruled c.2254-2218).

It is the site of discovery of the earliest traces of the Hittite language, and the earliest attestation of any Indo-European language, dated to the 20th century BC.