Excavations are being carried out in the ruins of Ani, the ancient Armenian capital located in present-day Turkey. Specialists in art history, archaeologists, architects and restoration experts from 12 different Turkish universities are participating in the excavation work being conducted simultaneously at 4 different sites.
According to Akunq.net, this was reported by the Turkish state news agency “Anadolu.” The Turkish media outlet naturally did not mention Ani’s Armenian origin, but contented itself with merely mentioning the Bagratunis.
The excavation work, carried out through the joint efforts of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the University of the Caucasus, is being directed by Doctor Muhammed Arslan.
The latter told the correspondent of the “Anadolu” agency that the excavations began in 2019. All artifacts discovered during the excavations are handed over to museums. Arslan also noted that the team conducting the excavations comprises 35 people, including students.
The main purpose of these excavation and restoration works being carried out in Ani is to renovate the Manuchihr Mosque and other structures of an Islamic character.
Thus, according to the source, the Governor of Kars, Turker Oksuz, who visited Ani to follow the excavations, expressed hope to journalists that the Manuchihr Mosque, considered “the first mosque of Anatolia,” would be opened on 16 August for Islamic ceremonies.
Source: Akunq.net
