It was determined that the hearths and ovens unearthed were used by the Phrygians to bake bread with the meat of cattle and sheep sacrificed for religious rituals.
Archaeological excavations at the Midas Castle in Yazılıkaya Midas Valley in the Han district of Eskişehir started again after 71 years with the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Anadolu University.
Since 2022, important findings were reached in the 26-hectare (88-acre) Midas Castle area during the excavations carried out under the direction of associate professor Yusuf Polat, a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Anadolu University.
Head of the excavation Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polat said that this year they mainly worked in the area called 'Agdistis sanctuary' in the upper part of the rocky plateau.
Explaining that they obtained important results in the study around the rock altar dated to the Phrygian period, Polat gave the following information:
'For the first time, thanks to the extensive excavations carried out in front of a Phrygian altar, we have determined the existence of places where the preparations for the rituals performed in front of the altar were carried out, where there were hearths, with a simple stone foundation and wooden construction. According to the first determinations we made, in the sanctuary dated to the 8th-7th century BC, that is, the Middle Phrygian Period, at the same time, Lydian ceramics of the 7th-6th century BC, and ceramics and finds belonging to the Roman Period dated to the 1st and 2nd centuries in the upper layers were found.'
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