Ancient Christian Amulet and Artifacts Unearthed in Turkey

Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered a 1,500-year-old Christian amulet. This discovery took place at the Türkmen Karahöyük site in Konya, central Turkey. An international team of around 60 researchers from 13 countries conducted the excavation.

The amulet, dating back to the fourth or fifth centuries A.D., is a significant find. Inside its copper case lies a thin, 0.1-millimeter gold sheet. Experts believe a biblical passage is likely inscribed on this sheet, although the exact passage remains unknown. Photos show the amulet as small, dark, and heavily corroded. Researchers are meticulously cleaning and examining it.

Excavation co-director Michele Rüzgar Massa stated that such amulets are uncommon, with only one similar example found in Germany. He mentioned the amulet might have belonged to a small child, serving a role similar to an evil-eye charm.

Beyond the amulet, the site revealed older items, including a stone seal with a hieroglyphic Luwian inscription. The Luwians were an ancient group residing in Anatolia during the Bronze and Iron Ages. This seal is estimated to date back to 1500-1400 B.C.

Other findings included two copper seals and a clay seal impression. According to Massa, the stone seal carries the name “Kurunti-ziti,” linked to Kurunta, a prominent deity in the Hittite world. The individual named on the seal likely held a moderate administrative position, indicating the site’s role as a major center around 1500-1400 B.C.

Deputy excavation director Hüseyin Erpehlivan highlighted the site’s significance within Anatolian archaeology. Located in a culturally intersecting region in the heart of Anatolia, Türkmen Karahöyük is not restricted to a single period. It offers evidence from the Late Hellenistic, Iron Age, and Bronze Age periods.

Recent months have seen other significant biblical-related discoveries in Turkey. For instance, archaeologists discovered a rare 2,500-year-old marble statue in Sardis, a city mentioned in the Book of Revelation. An ancient mosaic was also found in Smyrna, located in modern-day İzmir, Turkey.