Ernis-Evditepe: The Largest Early Iron Age Necropolis in Eastern Anatolia

Abstract

The Ernis-Evditepe Fortress and Necropolis are situated 80 km. north of modern Van. During our survey in Evditepe, we observed that, like other Early Iron Age strongholds, the site consists of a fortress and a necropolis. The Ernis-Evditepe Necropolis covers a wide area on the northern, northeastern and southeastern slopes of the hill and is the largest known necropolis in Eastern Anatolia. The tomb chambers were dug into the soil and lined with roughly-worked andesite stones. The most interesting fact related to the excavation of the metal tomb gifts found at the Ernis-Evditepe cemeteries is that various articles made of iron, forty in number, were found there.