Curious Ancient Artifacts Discovered in Canakkale, Türkiye

An excavation team has uncovered a cylinder seal and a rare lead sling stone dating back approximately 4,000 years in northwestern Türkiye’s Canakkale province, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

Goksel Sazci, an archaeologist from Onsekiz Mart University, reported that this year’s excavations, which began in July and will continue through mid-September, focus on the Middle Bronze Age layers, specifically the Troy-5 period.

The team explored two areas: one related to defense systems and another trench in the northwestern part of the settlement to broaden their investigation. In addition to the cylinder seal, which is a foreign tradition originating from southern Mesopotamia, they discovered various stone tools, including bowls, pots, and weaving implements.

Sazci noted that this is the first cylinder seal of its kind found in Europe outside Anatolia, suggesting that such artifacts spread through trade networks. The lead sling stone, a rare find typically associated with the Hellenistic and Roman periods, adds to the significance of these discoveries, which highlight the region’s rich historical connections.