VAN, Türkiye — In an extraordinary breakthrough, archaeologists have identified the historic site known as Körzüt Castle in Van province as Haldi Patari—the “sacred city of Haldi.” This revelation stems from recently uncovered cuneiform inscriptions, which have rewritten the narrative of this ancient fortification.
Discovery of the Temple and Inscribed Blocks
During rescue excavations undertaken in 2023, archaeologists uncovered remnants of a temple structure embedded in the castle’s rugged terrain. Among the finds were two inscribed basalt blocks bearing six lines of cuneiform script each. These blocks emerged from what appears to be the temple’s interior context.
Deciphering the Ancient Text
This year, a team of epigraphists succeeded in deciphering the inscriptions. Their readings confirmed the name Haldi Patari, interpreted as “the sacred city of Haldi.” Haldi, a paramount deity in the Urartian pantheon—associated with war and statehood—was traditionally revered across the kingdom. These findings affirm the site’s cultic significance.
Situating the Find in Historical Context
Scholars assign the temple and its inscriptions to the late second or early first millennium BCE, aligning with the Urartian cultural horizon. Structural and stylistic elements of the complex suggest construction during the reigns of early Urartian kings, which anchors the site within a broader framework of Urartian political and religious geography.
Significance of the Identification
The designation of Körzüt Castle as Haldi Patari transforms it from an anonymous archaeological site into a named religious center. As a sanctuary devoted to Haldi, this fortress likely played a pivotal role in both regional worship and statecraft. The find provides a rare opportunity to refine our understanding of Urartian territorial organization and the spatial distribution of sacred sites.
Future Directions
Current efforts prioritize ongoing excavation, preservation of the inscriptions, and comprehensive publication of the texts. By comparing these findings with other Urartian epigraphic data, researchers aim to reconstruct the administrative and ritual dimensions of Haldi Patari and integrate it thoughtfully into the broader historical narrative.
