A new project was launched under the leadership of an archaeologist and an Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rıfat Kuvanç from our university's Department of ADepartment of Art History aims to reveal the Urartu civilization more comprehensively. The Urartians (9th century BCE), one of the ancient civilizations of Eastern Anatolia, were known for their emphasis on agriculture and storage. One of the most significant findings that has survived to the present day is the large clay jars called pitos, which were used to store grains and seeds.
Within the scope of this project, the seeds obtained from the pitos will be examined using modern biotechnology methods. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kaan Hürkan from the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology will identify the species of these seeds using DNA barcoding and metabarcoding techniques. Thus, ancient agricultural diversity will be brought to light at the molecular level.
Additionally, Biologist Dr. Yasemin Kemeç Hürkan will conduct experiments on seed revival at the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory of the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology. Zeynep Özmen, an undergraduate student in the Department of Plant Protection at the Faculty of Agriculture, will also participate in the studies and actively assist in all laboratory processes. In this way, student contributions will be included in the research, supporting the development of young scientists.
Genomera Biotechnology Ltd. Şti., operating within the Iğdır University Serhat Technopark, is also providing sponsorship support for the laboratory analyses of the project. This demonstrates a strong example of university-industry collaboration.
This interdisciplinary study promises to reveal intriguing new findings in both archaeology and biotechnology. This initiative to unravel the mysteries of the Urartu civilization will also lay a valuable foundation for future scientific research.
The castle ruins located in Kevenli Neighborhood at the foot of Mount Erek are considered one of the most important settlements of the Urartians.
Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rıfat Kuvanç
Researchers from left to right: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kaan Hürkan, Biologist Dr. Yasemin Kemeç Hürkan, Zeynep Özmen