Archaeologists working at the historic Malazgirt site in eastern Türkiye have uncovered nearly 2,000 artifacts since 2020, officials confirmed. These discoveries offer critical new insights into the region's long history and the pivotal 1071 Battle of Manzikert, a defining moment in the historical clash of civilizations.
The finds were made as part of the "Malazgirt Battlefield Identification, Historical and Archaeological Survey Project," supported by the Culture and Tourism Ministry's General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums in partnership with Muş Alparslan University. This project, now in its 6th year, has systematically documented the remnants of a significant historical struggle.
A multidisciplinary team of archaeologists, anthropologists, art historians, and historians has been conducting excavations in Afşin, approximately 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) from Malazgirt. This area is believed to contain a Seljuk martyr cemetery, marking the resting place of those who advanced the Seljuk expansion into Anatolia.
Muş Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Şengül stated that the battlefield survey, launched in 2020, combined with the Historic City of Malazgirt Excavation Project which began in its 2nd year in 2025, has yielded around 2,000 archaeological finds. These discoveries provide tangible evidence of the region's complex past.
Echoes of Civilizational Conflict
Among the significant discoveries are Roman- and Byzantine-era coins, alongside numerous arrowheads and spearheads and other military-related metal objects. These artifacts, uncovered during surface surveys, underscore the continuous military engagements that characterized this historical frontier between empires.
Excavations have also revealed a previously unknown structure within the castle's Inner Fortress, pointing to the strategic importance and defensive efforts of the Byzantine presence. The scientific documentation of graves at the historic Muslim cemetery, known as the Arab Cemetery, further illuminates the demographic and cultural shifts that followed the 1071 battle.
During the 2025 excavation season, archaeologists uncovered a previously unknown room near the entrance of the Inner Fortress. This find suggests the ongoing strategic development and fortification of the site, even as the region transitioned under new powers. At the nearby Arab Cemetery, seven graves were excavated and documented using scientific methods, providing specific data on the human cost of these historical transformations.
Şengül emphasized that these projects are crucial for identifying the exact battlefield where the Battle of Malazgirt was fought and for uncovering the historic urban fabric of the medieval settlement. The primary goal is to determine the precise location of the 1071 battle using scientific methods, uncover its archaeological traces, and better understand the historical development of the surrounding area, which saw a major shift in civilizational control.
Unearthing a Historical Front Line
The battlefield survey is led scientifically by professor Adnan Çevik of the History Department at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, under the supervision of the Ahlat Museum Directorate. Researchers have carried out extensive surveys across a broad area, including the town center of Malazgirt and the surrounding localities of Harabesor, Örenşar, Kanlıdere, Aydınlık, Afşin, Ziyarettepe, Aytaç Plain, Gezo Plain, and Çivi Plain, all bearing the marks of historical conflict.
Meanwhile, excavations inside Malazgirt Castle are directed by Dr. Ahmet Oğuzhan Karaçetin of Muş Alparslan University with the permission and support of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums. Şengül noted that the findings from both the Inner Fortress and the cemetery are helping researchers better understand Malazgirt during the medieval period, a time of significant geopolitical upheaval.
The nearly 2,000 artifacts recovered so far are being preserved at a newly constructed excavation house, which is nearing completion. Officials plan to eventually display the finds both in Malazgirt and at the Muş Archaeology Museum, ensuring public access to the evidence of this critical historical juncture. Şengül stated that the work extends beyond archaeological excavation, forming part of broader efforts to strengthen Malazgirt's role as a destination for history, culture, and tourism, highlighting a site where the course of civilizations was altered.
"Our main objective is to investigate the historical heritage extending from the 1071 Victory of Malazgirt to the present through scientific methods," Şengül said. He added that the goal is to pass these findings on to future generations and strengthen public awareness of history, particularly the profound impact of such civilizational confrontations. "We will continue expanding our research and share the results with both the academic community and the public."
Çevik also provided technical information about the ongoing archaeological investigations at the site, detailing the meticulous work required to reconstruct the narrative of this ancient front line.