A lost 3,000-year-old castle has been discovered by divers and researchers in Turkey’s Lake Van. The spectacular ruins are thought to be those of a fortress built by the Uratu civilisation which flourished in the Iron Age between the 9th and 6th centuries BC. The discovery was made by archaeologists from the Van Yüzüncü Yil University working with a team of divers.
In an interview with Turkey’s newswire service Andalou Agency, underwater videographer and head of the diving team, Tahsin Ceylan explained that other divers and archaeologists familiar with the lake advised the team they were unlikely to find much in the water. But they eventually found that the remarkable ruins are part of an extensive site, The Independent reported. Despite being underwater for centuries, the height of the visible sections of the fortress’ remaining walls range between 10 and 13 feet high. Mr Ceylan told Turkish newspaper Hürriyet Daily News, “many civilizations and people had settled around Lake Van. It is a miracle to find this castle underwater.”
