Ancient site· Erciş, Van
Zernaki Tepe
Zernaki Tepe is a ancient site in Erciş, Van; Zernaki Tepe is a settlement mound on a high plateau above the northern shore of Lake Van, on the northeastern edge of Erciş.
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Practical info
- Location
- 39.0535°N · 43.3533°E
Editor's Note
Zernaki Tepe is a settlement mound on a high plateau above the northern shore of Lake Van, on the northeastern edge of Erciş. It is known for its exceptionally well-preserved chessboard-like grid plan (a Hippodamian layout) and massive fortifications, making it one of the earliest examples of grid town planning in the Near East. Long classified as Urartian (9th-6th century BC), more recent research points to significant use in the Artaxiad and Parthian periods. Noted by European travellers from the 19th century onward, the site has been under systematic excavation by Van Yüzüncü Yıl University since 2021.
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