At the archaeological site of Erebuni, located in Armenia, a fragment of a polychrome mural was discovered, providing new insights into the art of the ancient Kingdom of Urartu. The piece was found in a fortress founded in the 8th century BC, and its dating places it towards the end of the 7th century or the beginning of the 6th century BC.
The information was disseminated by the Public Radio of Armenia and highlights the joint work of French and Armenian specialists. The discovery occurred in a location that was part of one of the most significant powers of the ancient Near East.
Erebuni was established as a fortified center of strategic importance. Its construction in the 8th century BC marked a moment of territorial consolidation for the Urartian kingdom, which controlled a vast mountainous area.
The mural, being polychrome in nature, serves as a material testimony to the decorative practices used in prestigious spaces within the fortress. Its partial preservation allows for the observation of color application on a prepared surface.
A precise dating of the fragment
Researchers determined that the work corresponds to the end of the 7th century or the beginning of the 6th century BC. This chronology places the piece in an advanced stage of the history of the Kingdom of Urartu, when the region was undergoing significant political and cultural changes.
The Franco-Armenian team applied analytical methods that allowed them to establish the period of creation of the mural. The precise dating reinforces the value of the discovery for understanding the artistic evolution in that territory.
The fortress of Erebuni remains one of the main references of Armenian archaeology. Each new finding contributes to reconstructing the daily life and aesthetic expressions of its ancient inhabitants.
The recovered fragment adds to a set of evidence that shows the complexity of the decorative techniques employed in official buildings. The presence of colors indicates a level of elaboration that went beyond mere functionality.
