Archaeologists uncover Turkey’s most important King Midas-related find in decades

The actual King Midas was a ruler of the Kingdom of Phrygia, in central Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), in the 8th century BCE. While he didn’t have the mythical ability to turn everything he touched into gold, he was a prominent leader, known for his wealth and political influence.

The capital of the Phrygian kingdom was Gordion, where the famous Midas Mound is located. Originally thought to be the burial site of Midas himself, it is now believed to be the resting place of his father.

New burial discovered

Further excavations at the site have revealed a second burial chamber, which archaeologists believe may have belonged to a member of the Phrygian royal family—possibly a relative of King Midas. The tomb dates back to the 8th century BCE, when the kingdom was at the height of its power.

The chamber, measuring 10 by 9 feet, lies beneath a 26-foot-high, 197-foot-diameter mound.

Although the wooden structure of the chamber had collapsed, more than 100 items were recovered, including ceremonial vessels, cauldrons and incense burners. Nearly 50 of these have been preserved and are now on display at the Gordion Museum.

Among the most remarkable discoveries is a bronze jug wrapped in linen—an extremely rare example of textile preservation in an object over 2,700 years old.

The types of vessels found in this burial are notably similar to those uncovered in the Midas Mound.

A shift in funerary tradition

Professor Yücel Şenyurt of Turkey’s Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, who is directing the excavation, said:

“This burial is considered the first known case of cremation among the Phrygians. This represents a deviation from the common inhumation [burial] practices evident in the funerary rituals of the period.”

Conservation work on-going

Archaeologists are continuing conservation work on the newly discovered burial chamber, with a plan to exhibit it in the Gordion Museum by the end of 2025.

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