A large Urartian storehouse at Kevenli fortress

In historical Western Armenia, in Van, archaeologists have discovered the largest known storehouse of Urartu. In the 2,600-year-old Kevenli fortress they uncovered 76 giant storage jars with cuneiform inscriptions, in which grain, oil and drinks were kept. The storehouse dates to the 9th–7th centuries BC.

Frescoes, a water-supply system and “palace pottery” with the image of a lion were also found. The find shows the high level of organisation and economy of the ancient Kingdom of Ararat.

The photograph shows the excavation site on a hill: the upper parts of large jars rise from the ground, and four people are working among them. A settlement can be seen in the distance.