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Byzantine siege artifacts uncovered at Manzikert
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2026-08-01 08:41 UTC → 2026-08-01 09:32 UTC ·
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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. The projectiles were battlefield, recovered from the Taşbaşı area, about 500 m southeast of the inner castle, during excavations that began in 2020. area. A follow‑up announcement in early August provided additional details, confirming confirmed the finds as the earliest known siege‑engine projectiles from the period and linking them linked to the 1071 battle in which where Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes defended the fortress against Sultan Alp Arslan. The minister highlighted the artifacts’ Arslan, highlighting their importance for understanding Byzantine military technology technology. Further details released on 1 August described a broader archaeological programme coordinated by Muş Culture and thanked Tourism Director Mehmet Şengül and researchers such as Prof. Dr. Adnan Çevik. In addition to the Directorate balista arrowheads, excavations have uncovered Roman and Byzantine coins, a range of Cultural Heritage weapons and a Muslim cemetery. Two parallel projects are underway: the research team for their work. 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.
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- 2026-08-01 09:32 UTC Byzantine siege artifacts uncovered at Manzikert
- 2026-08-01 08:41 UTC Byzantine siege artifacts uncovered at Manzikert
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