Excavations in the ancient district of Hasankeyf, in Turkey revealed a 1,600-year-old tear bottle from the Late Roman Period among a total of 434 artifacts discovered so far. According to Sözcü, the tear bottle was placed at the graves of deceased husbands by women to express their sorrow and signify their enduring connection.
The excavations, which began in July and are scheduled to continue until the end of the year, are led by Associate Professor Dr. Zekai Erdal. The team aims to uncover all Roman Period remains by tracing a wall that dates back to the 4th century CE. "Excavations have been carried out within and around the structure complex called the Great Palace in Hasankeyf Castle," said Dr. Erdal, head of the excavation and a faculty member in the Department of Art History at Mardin Artuklu University, according to Halk TV.
In the corner referred to as the east of the Great Palace, excavations revealed wall remnants dating to the Late Roman Period, specifically from the 4th century CE. This finding proved the Roman presence mentioned by historical sources, according to Milliyet.
The tear bottle, made of glass and surviving intact to the present day, is of particular interest. "These bottles are found in graves from the Pagan belief period, that is, especially from the Roman and pre-Roman periods," Erdal said.
Tear bottles, believed to be a pre-Christian custom, were used to collect tears, particularly by women who lost their husbands, and were left at graves to signify enduring sorrow.
Hasankeyf, located on the banks of the Tigris River, has a 12,000-year history and was a transition route from Upper Mesopotamia to Anatolia. The area has hosted many civilizations, including the Byzantines, Sasanians, Umayyads, Abbasids, Hamdanids, Mervanids, Artuqids, Ayyubids, Akkoyunlu, Safavids, and Ottomans. Excavation works have been carried out in the area to uncover its rich historical heritage.
"In the coming years, the aim is to uncover all Roman Period remains by tracing the wall," stated Erdal, as reported by Hürriyet.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
