Ancient adobe throne comes to light

AA Photos

An ancient throne made of adobe has been found during excavations at Aslantepe in Malatya. The finding is very important according to the head of the excavations, Italian Professor Marcella Frangipane This year's excavations at the ancient Aslantepe site in the eastern province of Malatya have unearthed an adobe throne, estimated to date back to some 5,000 years ago. 

Rome's La Sapienza University academic and Aslantepe excavations head Professor Marcella Frangipane said they had started work in the beginning of August and continued in two different spots. 

She said they had found an adobe throne from 3,000 B.C. used by kings or city executives, adding it was a very important finding. 

Frangipane said the throne was found in a section of the palace which they thought served as a public building, and it was made of adobe, which is also the construction material of the palace.

She said they also unearthed burned pieces of wood inside the palace, adding, "It might have been be used as a platform to sit on the throne." 

Frangipane said the area around the throne was not a temple, adding there were also two window divisions behind the throne.

 
The professor said the public building inside the palace in Aslantepe was very big, and continued: 

"It has very big walls, two meters thick. Maybe the building has two stories or maybe more. The building is not a temple but a king's building, which is important. A secular system started in Aslantepe with this palace system. We don't know exactly but we have found something like this for the first time. The state system starts at this point. There is a small platform in the yard for people to appear before the king. A ceremony is organized for...

Continue reading on: