14.07.2025 15:22
In the research conducted to identify the area where the Battle of Malazgirt took place, approximately 200 metal objects were found. In the project supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, experts continue their efforts to determine the location of this historic battle that opened the gates of Anatolia.
In this year's phase of the studies aimed at identifying the area where the Battle of Malazgirt, which opened the doors of Anatolia to the Turks, took place, approximately 200 metal objects were found.
Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the "Project for the Identification of the Malazgirt Battle Site, Historical and Archaeological Surface Research," initiated in 2020 in collaboration with the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums and Muş Alparslan University, continues into its sixth year. On July 1, 40 experts from 12 universities began working to identify the area where the battle of 1071 took place in the district of Malazgirt, where Sultan Muhammad Alparslan, the ruler of the Great Seljuk State, achieved one of the greatest victories in history. Experts conducting surface research in the area between Sabuntepe and Aytaç Plain, located 7 kilometers from the district, found nearly 200 arrowheads, coins, rings, horseshoe nails, seals, and metal objects related to the battle. A significant portion of these finds is believed to be related to the Battle of Malazgirt.
Prof. Dr. Adnan Çevik, a faculty member of the History Department at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University and the scientific advisor of the project, stated to AA correspondent that they continue their work on the "Project for the Identification of the Malazgirt Battle Site, Historical and Archaeological Surface Research."
"WE BELIEVE THE BATTLE TOOK PLACE OVER A 150 KM AREA" Çevik, who explained that they started their research on July 1 this year, said:
"We are trying to identify the site of the Battle of Malazgirt, which constitutes one of the most important stages of our history and initiated the process of Anatolia becoming a Turkish homeland. We are conducting our studies with an interdisciplinary perspective. In the 6th year of the project, we are narrowing down the area in the direction where we believe the battle took place over a wide area of 150 kilometers, continuing our work with both geophysical applications and various methods related to the area. In the July phase, we are focusing more on the objects related to the battle in the area where the battle directly took place. We believe that Sabuntepe, which dominates the plateau at an altitude of 1700 meters, is one of the important points of the battle."
"THE QUALITY OF THE ARROWHEADS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US" Çevik stated that they worked in the field using survey and drilling excavation methods in accordance with the simulations they previously conducted in the direction where they believe the morning conflicts of the battle took place, and provided the following information:
"As we expected, we are encountering a dense number of finds. This is valuable in terms of showing that we are working in the right area with the right method. In this phase, approximately 200 metal objects were recovered. Among these are arrowheads, coins, rings, and various metal objects. We believe that most of these are directly related to the battle. We are finding arrowheads of different sizes and functions. The quality of the arrowheads is very important for us in terms of understanding which units clashed in this area. We are processing these on-site. We are uploading them to our database with their coordinates and photographs.
We document, visualize, and report the finds scientifically. Later, they are cleaned, processed, and recorded in the inventory. We then deliver these finds to the museum. Our work this year is proving to be extremely productive. In the research aimed at pinpointing the area where the battle took place in its 6th year, we are now approaching 70%. It is largely clear where and at what stages the battle occurred from our perspective. The work continues rapidly and efficiently within this framework."