Bastam — Urartian Fortress
Urartian (685–612 BCE Rusa II)·Urartian Kingdom·🇮🇷 West Azerbaijan Province, Iran
About
About Bastam — Urartian Fortress
Bastam — Urartian Fortress in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran is a Urartian (685–612 BCE Rusa II) fortress attributed to Urartian Kingdom. Urartian triangular fortress 800 × 400 m with citadel and temple of Khaldi. Kleiss Bastam Urartian fortress with Khaldi temple cella and treasury, Rusa II inscription.
Why it mattersKey Urartian Kingdom site informing Central Asian prehistory
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology refinement
- 02Metallurgy evidence
Theories
- 01Long-distance trade route
- 02Urbanism genesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 685 BCE
- Period
- Urartian (685–612 BCE Rusa II)
- Culture
- Urartian Kingdom
- Purpose
- Urartian triangular fortress 800 × 400 m with citadel and temple of Khaldi
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 685 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1960 CE
Modern excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
38.8800° N · 45.0700° E · 1300 m · 4 mapped features
Bastam — Urartian Fortress — Citadel Wall
wallMain defensive wall circuit
38.8801° N · 45.0701° EBastam — Urartian Fortress — Tower Bastion
towerSquare tower
38.8802° N · 45.0701° EBastam — Urartian Fortress — Palace Hall
hallColumned palace or temple hall
38.8798° N · 45.0702° EBastam — Urartian Fortress — Storage Annex
storageStorage building
38.8796° N · 45.0699° E