An extraordinary archaeological discovery in eastern Türkiye
is drawing attention after an archaeologist examining satellite imagery noticed unusual formations in the landscape that turned out to be the remains of a vast fortified settlement.
The site, located near the village of Mescidli in Muş Province, covers approximately 120,000 square meters—an area equivalent to around 17 football fields—and is surrounded by roughly 1.4 kilometers of defensive walls. The scale makes it the largest fortress identified so far in Muş.
The discovery began when archaeologist Melik Mirbey Ömeroğlu examined satellite images of the region. He noticed structural traces that appeared inconsistent with natural geological formations. A subsequent visit to the area revealed that the unusual patterns were actually extensive remains of ancient defensive architecture.
Ömeroğlu has referred to the site as “Dev Kale,” meaning “Giant Fortress,” reflecting its remarkable dimensions. An application has also been submitted to the Van Regional Board for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage seeking official registration and protection of the archaeological site.
The surviving fortifications provide important clues about the site's construction. Researchers have identified cyclopean and polygonal masonry, techniques involving the use of large, irregularly shaped stones fitted together to create powerful defensive walls.
Some surviving sections of the walls stand approximately two meters high on their interior faces, while their exterior faces reach as much as four meters. Additional traces of structures have also been identified within the northern part of the fortified area.
In the southern section, researchers found a circular stone-built depression constructed with smaller stones. Its exact function remains uncertain, but it may have played a role in water storage or water management, something that would have been particularly important for a large fortified settlement.
The architecture has been compared with Early Iron Age fortresses elsewhere in eastern Turkey, including Aşağı Anzaf and Zivistan Fortress in Van Province. These similarities have raised the possibility that the newly identified site could belong to the same broader historical period.
The most intriguing question concerns a possible connection with the Kingdom of Urartu, one of the major powers of the ancient Near East during the Iron Age.
Urartu emerged around the region of Lake Van and, at its height between approximately the ninth and seventh centuries BC, controlled territories across parts of modern eastern Turkey, Armenia and northwestern Iran. The kingdom became known for its imposing mountain fortresses, sophisticated irrigation systems, roads and monumental construction.
The location of the newly identified fortress is particularly interesting because it lies near routes associated with the westward expansion of Urartian power and what researchers believe may have been part of the ancient Urartian road network.
However, the connection between the newly discovered fortress and the Kingdom of Urartu has not yet been proven.
The architectural similarities and strategic location make a Urartian association a compelling possibility, but they are not sufficient on their own to establish the site's identity or date. Archaeologists will need systematic fieldwork, excavations, analysis of pottery and other finds, and scientific dating before the fortress can be confidently attributed to Urartu.
The discovery could also contribute to the long-running archaeological debate surrounding Arzaskun, an ancient settlement associated with the early history of Urartu whose exact location remains uncertain. The Muş region has previously been discussed as a possible area connected with the elusive settlement, and the enormous size and strategic position of the newly identified fortress could provide new evidence for researchers investigating the question.
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