Tomb reveals burial methods of ancient age

A tomb discovered during excavations at the temple of Apollon Smintheus in Çanakkale provides information about ancient burial methods. The tomb is the first one unearthed since work began in 2004 Excavations at Apollon Smintheus, located in the northwestern province of Çanakkale's Ayvac?k district, have unearthed a 7,000-year-old tomb.

Headed by Professor Co?kun Özgünel, the excavations are being carried out with scientific consultancy from the head of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University's (ÇOMÜ) Archaeology Department, Professor Turan Takao?lu.
 
Takao?lu said the tomb, which is a significant finding for the region's archaeological history, provided crucial information about the burial methods in the region during that ancient era.

He said bodies were laid in the tombs in the fetal position. "Ceramics were put next to the bodies as gifts. The tombs were covered with stones randomly. The tombs were discovered for the first time in Smitheus, where prehistoric settlement excavations began in 2004," he said.

The professor said the tombs would help them fill in the gaps in the region's archaeology.

Apollon Smintheus

The Apollon Smitheus Temple is located in the Bahçeleriçi area, in the skirts of a valley between the northwest and northeast of Gülp?nar village in Ayvac?k, which was known as Külahl? in the past.

It was built in the second half of the 2nd century B.C. and was a sacred place in the Troas region. The pseudodipteral style of the architect Hermogenes was used in the temple's design. There are eight columns at both the front and back of the temple and 14 columns along its sides. 

The temple contains three chambers, including a pronaos (sacred front chamber), a naos ...