İremir Mound excavations reveal 5,500-year-old settlement in Van

Archaeological excavations at the İremir Mound in the Gürpınar district of Van are uncovering traces of a settlement dating back approximately 5,500 years. The site, located in the Otbiçer neighborhood, provides evidence of life from the Early Bronze Age, specifically the Karaz or Early Transcaucasian periods, which predates the Urartu civilization.

Under the scientific advisement of Professor Hanifi Biber from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University and with permission from the Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums, a 15-person team of archaeologists, anthropologists, and art historians is conducting the research. Having been discovered seven years ago, the ongoing excavations aim to map the extent of previously discovered storage buildings and gain deeper insights into the daily life and cultural structures of the region's ancient inhabitants.