Artifacts from Ani on display at Kars Museum

Ancient pieces that have been unearthed since 1965 during excavations at the ancient site of Ani, the ancient Armenian city now located etween the border of Armenia and the eastern Turkish province of Kars are being displayed at the Kars Museum.

The pieces date back to at least 2,000 years ago, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Kars Museum Director Necmettin Alp said the ancient site of Ani was the first trade city from the Caucasus to the entrance of Anatolia and therefore it had international significance.

He said the pieces unearthed in Ani, one of the most important ancient sites in Turkey, were covering an area of 85 hectares, adding, “Ani had a population of 20,000 people and trade vas very active there. Life continued in the ancient city until the 15th century. During this time, mosques, churches, baths, palaces, structures of civil architecture examples and castles had been built within a five-kilometer long city wall.”

Alp noted the whole ancient city was a first-degree archaeological area and continued, “Its vicinity was also declared as a third-degree archaeological area. Excavations have been continuing there since 1965. Earthenware pieces found during these excavations, metal work, glass work and coins are on display at the Kars Museum. Excavations started in 1965 with Professor Kemal Baltan are still ongoing. Between 1989 and 2004, Professor Beyhan Karamağaralı maintained excavations. Since 2005, work continued under the leadership of Professor Yaşar Çoruhlu for five years. The Kars Museum Directorate has also been leading the excavations since 2001.”