During excavations on the territory of the Archaeological Complex, Midas Kale in the Turkish province of Eskishekhir discovered traces of the fireplace and furnaces from the times of the Phrygians.
Excavations at the Midas fortress in the valley of the same name with a length of three kilometers located between the Khan and Seyitggazi regions, began in 2022 at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey with the support of the Anatoly University.
Heads of excavations deployed on the territory of 26 hectares, a teacher at the Department of Archeology of the Faculty of Literature of Anatolian University, Associate Professor Yusuf Palat.
During the studies conducted in front of the Phrygian stone altar, a fireplace and furnaces dating from the VII century BC were discovered.
The fireplace and furnaces were used by the Phrygians to baking bread, as well as cattle and sheep, sacrifice as part of religious rituals.
Polat told Anadola that this year excavations are mainly conducted in the upper part of the rocky plateau in the area called the “Holy Territory of Agnistis”.
“Thanks to the extensive excavations carried out in front of the Phrygian altar, we first discovered the existence of rooms with a simple stone foundation and a wooden structure where preparations for rituals were carried out,” the associate professor said.
In the area of excavations on the rocky platform, four stone bowls were found, built one after another, and right next to them, the stone idol – the abstract image of the “goddess Demeter”.
Stone bowls and the presence of an idol located next to them are a concrete evidence that this area was blessed by the “Mother of God” for rituals of abundance and fertility, “he said.
Palat said that the fireplace and furnaces found during excavations provide important information about how rituals were organized.
“During the research, we discovered the stone tools of the Lower Paleolithic period. Almost all civilizations that came later lived in this geography, because these deep valleys gave protection and were very fertile. It was also preferred for the settlement, because there is watering water here “Blessed land,” he added.