SHOTLIST: ARDAHAN, TÜRKİYE (SEPT. 29, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF DRONE SHOTS OF CASTLE RUINS / EXCAVATION WORK 2. VARIOUS OF EXCAVATION WORK 3. KARS MUSEUM DIRECTOR AND THE EXCAVATION HEAD, HAKIM ASLAN SPEAKING 4. DRONE SHOT OF EXCAVATION WORK 5. ARCHAEOLOGIST AYSEGUL AKIN ARAS FROM ARDAHAN UNIVERSITY, WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE EXCAVATION, SPEAKING 6. EXCAVATION WORK 7. AKIN ARAS SPEAKING 8. EXCAVATION WORKARDAHAN, TÜRKİYE - SEPT. 29, 2025: Archaeologists have begun excavation work in the ruins of a castle in northeastern Türkiye, exploring a history that dates back 3,500 years. The excavation in Gole in the province of Ardahan aims to understand the architectural structure, historical layers, and settlement layout of the castle. Some finds, such as pottery fragments, have already been unearthed. The excavations are being conducted with the permission of the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Cultural Heritage and Museums Directorate, under the leadership of Kars Museum Director Hakim Aslan and with the supervision of archaeologist Aysegul Akin Aras from Ardahan University. The project is supported by the university, Gole District Governorship, and Gole Municipality. - ‘Excavations also to examine region’s ties with Urartu’ Kars Museum director and the excavation head, Hakim Aslan, told Anadolu that rescue excavations have begun at the historical castle. Situated on a dominant point in the region, he emphasized the site’s strategic importance, saying: “Surface surveys had been conducted in Ardahan before, but this is the first archaeological excavation. That makes our work significant.” “Another key aspect is that we are working in an area that can be dated to the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age. As excavations progress, we will obtain more precise dating results. In addition, there are Urartian inscriptions in this region. Urartian sources also mention this area. Our work will provide important clues to better understand the relationship between this region and the Urartians,” he said. - 'Finds indicate Late Bronze-Early Iron Age origins’ Speaking to Anadolu, Akin Aras, who is involved in the excavation, also underlined that the archaeological work at Tigem Castle is a first for Ardahan. “Since no castle from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age had been excavated in this region, that period had not been clearly defined. The settlement’s location, its defensive architecture, and the finds from previous surface surveys indicate that the castle belongs to this era,” she explained. Located at an altitude of around 2,100 meters, the castle overlooks the Gole Plain and surrounding roads, and the castle’s position on the route to the Caucasus increased its importance, said Aras. “We can say that the way of life here about 3,500 years ago was similar to today. The castle is surrounded by vast pastures. This suggests that people living here in that era engaged in animal husbandry,” she said. “Considering the geographical conditions, it is understood that, as in modern times, livestock farming was the foundation of life in this region,” she added.