An ancient tomb discovered in Turkey, known as the Karaağaç Tumulus, may have been constructed for a member of the family of King Midas, who reigned in the eighth century B.C. The tumulus is located over 100 miles west of Gordion, the ancient capital of the Phrygian kingdom (1200 to 675 B.C.).
Significance of the Discovery
The tomb's distant location suggests that Phrygian society's political power was not solely concentrated in the capital city, but rather distributed across the ancient kingdom in central Anatolia. Archaeologist Hüseyin Erpehlivan of Turkey's Bilecik University stated that this challenges the historical view of Phrygia as a centralized kingdom, similar to the Assyrian or Urartian empires. Erpehlivan indicated that the elite tomb's location supports the idea of a Phrygian political organization not limited to a strictly urban-focused system at Gordion. However, he acknowledged that the lavish grave goods could indicate a royal gift exchange rather than a direct royal burial.
Tumulus Details and Excavation
The Karaağaç Tumulus stands approximately 26 feet (8 meters) above a natural hillock and over 100 feet (30 meters) above the surrounding plain, with a diameter of about 110 feet (60 meters). It was initially identified in 2010 due to looting damage visible in satellite photographs, with academic excavations commencing in 2013.
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Archaeology, Erpehlivan analyzed the tomb's architecture and grave goods. The monumental architecture of the wooden-chambered tomb and its contents are comparable to elite and royal burials found near Gordion, according to Erpehlivan. These aspects suggest the individual buried within the Karaağaç Tumulus was integrated into Phrygian power structures.
Grave Goods and Dating
Grave goods included numerous ceramic jars, one inscribed with a Phrygian name, and several situlas—elaborately crafted bronze vessels. The presence of situlas is significant because, prior to this study, documented examples were primarily found in the "Midas Mound" at Gordion, believed to be the tomb of King Midas's father, Gordias. These artifacts help date the tomb to between 740 and 690 B.C.
King Midas and Phrygian Tombs
King Midas is widely known for the myth of his "Golden Touch" but was also a historical ruler of Phrygia in the eighth century B.C. Ancient Greeks considered him to be wealthy, a notion supported by archaeological discoveries of ornate metalwork, jewelry, pottery, and fine textiles in several Phrygian royal tombs. Despite over 120 burial mounds near Gordion having been investigated, King Midas's specific tomb remains undiscovered.
Human Remains and Expert Commentary
Human remains were found within the Karaağaç Tumulus, but researchers do not believe they belong to the original occupant. Some bones are from an older cemetery at the site, while others are from later burials.
University of Pennsylvania archaeologist Brian Rose, who has excavated tombs at Gordion, commented on the tumulus's uniqueness for containing graves spanning nearly three millennia and its dating to King Midas's reign. Maya Vassileva of the New Bulgarian University considered the tumulus "very important evidence" for an elite Phrygian burial far from Gordion. However, Vassileva expressed doubt that the situla fragments definitively indicate royal links, suggesting an elite gift exchange as a more plausible hypothesis.