Recent archaeological excavations at Kef Castle, an ancient Urartian fortress perched at 2,300 meters (7,546 feet) above sea level in the Adilcevaz district of Bitlis, Turkey, have yielded a remarkable array of findings. Led by Associate Professor Dr. İsmail Coşkun of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, the team unearthed artifacts that offer new insights into the Urartian civilization, which thrived over 2,700 years ago. A Fortress in the Skies Kef Castle, built by King Rusa II of Urartu, is situated on the slopes of Mount Süphan, offering commanding views of the Adilcevaz region, the Malazgirt Plain, and Lake Van. The castle is a testament to the strategic and architectural ingenuity of the Urartians, who controlled a vast kingdom in what is now eastern Turkey during the first millennium BC. The fortress is noted for its extensive use of basalt, a volcanic rock abundant in the region, making it unique among Urartian castles. “This is the only castle from the Urartian period where so much basalt was used,” Dr. Coşkun explained as reported in the Anadolu Agency report. The fortress's location and the materials used in its construction suggest that it was built not only for defense but also as a symbol of the Urartian king's power and the empire's resilience in this rugged landscape. Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesAsiaRead Later