Gordion, Archaeological site in Ankara Province, Turkey.
Gordion is an archaeological site in Ankara Province that reveals the remains of an ancient city with roots in the Iron Age. The site contains residential buildings, defensive walls, a ceremonial gate, and numerous burial mounds scattered across the landscape.
The site became a royal capital in the 8th century BCE when it served as the seat of King Midas and controlled important trade routes. The city continued to exist through later periods before eventually being abandoned and lost until modern archaeological work brought it back to light.
The name comes from the ancient Phrygian capital where people once governed an important territory. Visitors can see how daily life unfolded through preserved wooden structures and early decorated stone mosaics that archaeologists uncovered during excavations.
The site spreads across open terrain with marked paths and information signs at key locations to help navigate the various areas. Visitors should plan for plenty of sun exposure and bring water, as the landscape offers little shade and temperatures can rise significantly during the day.
One of the site's most impressive burial mounds, Tumulus MM, stands out for its massive scale and ranks among the largest of its kind globally. Inside this mound, archaeologists uncovered an intact wooden burial chamber from the 8th century BCE that revealed details about royal funeral practices of the era.
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