The burials date back 2,700 years and are believed to be associated with Gula, the ancient Mesopotamian goddess of healing.
Huseyin Demir/UnsplashRuins in Harran, one of the world’s oldest settlements.
Archaeologists excavating the site of an ancient temple in Harran, Türkiye, recently came across an odd find: the remains of four dogs arranged in the shape of a crescent. The ritual burial suggests the canines were associated with the cult of Gula, an ancient Mesopotamian goddess of healing.
Harran is one of the world’s oldest settlements, and over the years, it’s provided a wealth of information about the various civilizations that called it home, from the Babylonians to the Romans. Now, this latest discovery is shedding light on Iron Age religion and culture in the sacred city.
Archaeologists Uncover A Ritual Dog Burial In The Ancient City Of Harran
Wikimedia CommonsA reconstruction of Harran as it may have looked in the 13th century.
Recently, a team of archaeologists from Harran University began excavations in Harran, Turkiye with support from the Turkish Historical Society, Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and various other local and governmental organizations. Harran is one of the oldest settlements in the world and was founded as early as 2500 B.C.E. It began as a merchant colony of Ur and slowly blossomed into a hub for trade and religious gatherings.
It is best known today for being mentioned in the Bible and Torah as the home of several notable religious figures, including Abraham and his father, Terah. The city also played a key role in the First Crusade and served as the site of the first Islamic university.
The city was abandoned in the 13th century after it was captured by the Mongol Empire, and it eventually fell into a state of ruin. With its long history, Harran has been at the center of archaeological interest for decades. In 2000, it was even listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Recently, a team led by Dr. Mehmet Önal, the head of the Department of Archaeology at Harran University, conducted excavations in the city to uncover artifacts of historical or religious significance. In an unexpected find, the archaeologists unearthed the remains of four dogs dating back to 700 B.C.E. that were ritually buried in the shape of a crescent.
Fadime Kıldı/Gazete İpekyolThe four dogs were buried in a crescent shape, as seen here.
“In the two to three meter area where the Sin Temple is located, four dog burials were found,” said Dr. Önal, according to the Gazete İpekyol. “Two places were prepared and the burials were formed in a crescent shape.”
As for why the dogs were ritually buried, researchers believe they were associated with Gula, the Mesopotamian goddess of healing.
Who Was Gula, The ‘Healer Of The Land’?
Wellcome ImagesGula, the Mesopotamian goddess of healing, with a dog at her feet.
Originally portrayed as a goddess of healing, Gula first appeared in the historical record around 2100 B.C.E. Later called “healer of the Earth” and “the woman who brings together what has been broken,” Gula would become the primary goddess of medicine and was revered throughout Mesopotamia.
Depictions of Gula often included dogs, her sacred animals and trusted companions. Worshippers of Gula built temples and, as researchers uncovered in Harran, seemingly sacrificed dogs in her honor. They even created votive figurines of dogs inscribed with prayers that they dedicated to her.
“It was believed that dogs healed diseases. When we look at these burials at that time, we can say that goddess Gula was worshipped,” Dr. Önal explained.
Various Mesopotamian texts reference the power of dog saliva in healing the sick. Other records mention the possibility of transferring a disease from a human to a dog via physical contact. Evidently, dogs and medicine were linked, leading to their association with the goddess of healing.
Depictions of dogs have also been discovered in Harran Castle, pointing to the possible presence of a dog cult in the city at the time of the animals’ burial. Overall, the finding has revealed a previously unacknowledged layer of Harran’s history — and it may be the first of many such discoveries to be made in the 6,000-year-old city.
After reading about the ritual dog burials uncovered in Harran, Türkiye, go inside the stories of 11 famous dogs who earned the title “man’s best friend.” Then, read about the dogs who helped rescue victims during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
