Byzantine siege artifacts uncovered at Manzikert

In late July 2026 Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the first discovery of 11th‑century Byzantine balista arrowheads at the historic Manzikert (Malazgirt) battlefield, recovered from the Taşbaşı area. A follow‑up in early August confirmed the finds as the earliest known siege‑engine projectiles linked to the 1071 battle where Emperor Romanos IV defended the fortress against Sultan Alp Arslan, highlighting their importance for understanding Byzantine military technology.

Further details released on 1 August described a broader archaeological programme coordinated by Muş Culture and Tourism Director Mehmet Şengül and researchers such as Prof. Dr. Adnan Çevik. In addition to the balista arrowheads, excavations have uncovered Roman and Byzantine coins, a range of weapons and a Muslim cemetery. Two parallel projects are underway: the Malazgirt Battlefield Surface Survey (ongoing since 2020) and the Historic Malazgirt City Excavation slated to begin in 2025. To date roughly 2,000 artifacts have been recovered, with plans to display many in local museums and a proposed experience museum.