Türkiye’s ancient trade routes rediscovered with 4,400-year-old jade seal
A cylindrical seal made of jade, dating back 4,400 years, was unearthed during a rescue excavation at a mound located within a thermal power plant area in Kutahya, Türkiye, December 5, 2024. (AA Photo)
An Early Bronze Age cylindrical seal, estimated to be 4,400 years old and made of jade, has been discovered in Kutahya’s Seyitomer Hoyuk. The artifact is described as the oldest cylindrical seal unearthed in Inner Western Anatolia.
Excavations backed by industry support
The ongoing archaeological work at Seyitomer Hoyuk, located within a thermal power plant area, began 35 years ago. It is currently being conducted under the leadership of Sevgi Gurdal, head archaeologist at Kutahya Museum, with sponsorship from Celikler Holding.
The site primarily focuses on findings from the Early Bronze Age (3000-2000 B.C.), with significant ceramic production artifacts coming to light. The 2024 excavation season, involving 25 specialists and 50 workers, has already yielded extraordinary discoveries.
Ancient trade link
Gurdal explained that cylindrical seals originated in Mesopotamia during the mid-fourth millennium B.C. and spread through trade to Anatolia and other regions. She noted that this latest discovery dates to the Early Bronze Age II period, predating similar seals found last year at Troy by approximately 600 years.
“This cylindrical seal is particularly significant as it is the oldest of its kind found in Inner Western Anatolia,” Gurdal said.
Rare jade seal found in Anatolia
Detailed analysis revealed that the seal is made of jade, a material rare in Türkiye. The green jade is distinct from the purple varieties found locally in Harmancik, a region between Bursa and Kutahya.
“This seal highlights cultural exchanges and international trade in the region,” Gurdal noted. “It reflects the use of local materials in crafting artifacts influenced by external cultures.”
The seal, discovered within a wall of an architectural structure, features a circular perforation and a decorated surface with a cage motif enclosed by circular borders.
History of Seyitomer Hoyuk
Dating back to 3000 B.C., Seyitomer Hoyuk is located 26 kilometers from Kutahya’s city center. The mound, originally 26 meters high and 140 by 150 meters in size, has been a site of archaeological significance since 1989. Excavations began as part of a rescue effort due to its location atop a coal reserve estimated at 12 million tons.
From 1990 to 1995, Afyonkarahisar Museum oversaw the digs, followed by Kutahya Dumlupinar University’s Archaeology Department until 2014. The site has yielded over 17,000 artifacts, all transferred to Kutahya Museum.
Since 2019, the Kutahya Museum Directorate has led the ongoing work, uncovering more layers of history from this vital Early Bronze Age settlement.
