Archaeologists working at Gevhernik Castle in Ardanuç, northeastern Türkiye, have identified a vaulted burial chamber beneath the apse of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, believed to be the long-lost tomb of Georgian King Ashot I (Ashot the Great, Kuropalates) — “a pivotal ruler in the formation of medieval Georgia.”

Based on the article published in the Anatolian Archaeology publication, the discovery provides the first archaeological confirmation of historical accounts describing the king’s burial at Artanuji, today’s Ardanuç.

The excavation, carried out under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, focuses on the inner fortress area and the remains of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.

According to excavation director Dr. Osman Aytekin, the team uncovered a 2-meter-long and 1.8-meter-wide chamber roofed with a stone vault, located directly beneath the church’s apse.

“Medieval Georgian sources mention that King Ashot was buried in this very church,” Dr. Aytekin said. “The architectural position and structure of the chamber correspond perfectly with those accounts. Scientifically, we can now confirm the burial place of Ashot the Great on behalf of Turkish archaeology.”

In addition to the burial chamber, archaeologists unearthed a communal kitchen (tandoor house) and extensive cistern systems, suggesting a significant resident population within the fortress.

Two cisterns have been fully excavated, and work continues on a third. Among the portable finds are an early 11th-century Byzantine coin, ceramic fragments, and stone and metal projectiles.

All artifacts will be delivered to the Artvin Museum at the end of the excavation season.