DNA analysis reveals new details about Anatolian Seljuk sultans

In a new project, researchers have revealed unprecedented details about the Anatolian Seljuk dynasty through DNA and anatomical analysis of remains recovered from the royal tomb in Konya.

The findings have shed light on the lineage, physical appearance, health conditions, and even the causes of death of several Seljuk sultans.

The project, titled “Arrangement of the Remains at the Konya Seljuk Dynasty Tomb,” was led by Professor Mutluhan Tas, a faculty member of Gazi University’s Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts. Over six years, Tas and his team meticulously reconstructed life-size silicon statues of the dynasty’s members, based on scientific and historical data.

Faces of the past revived

Seventeen silicon statues, including those of twelve sultans, have been on display at the Dar-ul Muluk Exhibition Palace in Konya for nearly two years, attracting considerable public interest. Each statue offers an astonishingly lifelike representation, crafted to reflect the true facial and body structures determined through advanced scientific methods.

Professor Tas emphasized that the project, launched with the approval of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2017, was carried out in cooperation with the Konya Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism and the Konya Governorship. Osteoarchaeologist Emel Akpolat also played a key role in the research.

Initially aimed at preserving the integrity of the Seljuk rulers’ skeletal remains, the project evolved into a detailed study to reconstruct, classify, and conserve their bones. The findings went far beyond expectations.

Ancestry, racial ties, and genetic heritage uncovered

DNA samples taken from the Seljuk sultans were analyzed at the Istanbul Council of Forensic Medicine. The results revealed crucial insights into their genealogy and physical features. Relationships, such as father-son and grandfather-grandson links, were confirmed, while racial ties and tissue thicknesses were mapped, allowing for accurate facial reconstructions.

“This was an exceptionally long and complex project,” Tas noted. “Through these studies, we not only reconstructed the faces but also better understood the physical and genetic traits of the Anatolian Seljuk rulers.”

Diseases and causes of death identified

The research also uncovered significant medical information about the Seljuk dynasty members. Tas explained:

“Historical sources, such as Ibn Bibi—the primary historian of the Anatolian Seljuks—and Byzantine chroniclers, suggested that Sultan Kilicarslan II was of very short stature. However, our findings show that he was 1.83 meters tall. Due to aging and spinal changes, he became hunched, giving the appearance of being much shorter.”

Tas added that while historical records indicated that Sultan Giyaseddin I was beheaded by a Byzantine knight, forensic analysis suggested he was martyred by an attack from behind during battle.

Moreover, it was discovered that Sultan Giyaseddin II, who lost the critical Battle of Kosedag, suffered from numerous genetic illnesses. He showed signs of rheumatoid arthritis, which significantly affected his skull formation and overall health.

A priceless contribution to Turkish history

Professor Tas expressed great pride in the project’s contributions to Türkiye’s historical and cultural heritage. “These statues are not just artworks; they are scientific reconstructions that offer priceless knowledge about the lives of the Anatolian Seljuk sultans,” he said.