A unique medieval ivory archer ring that may be 800 years old has been discovered in Turkey. Photo

The find was discovered in the Great Artukid Palace. It probably belonged to a high-ranking official at court. The ring is made of ivory and decorated with pearls, turquoise and silver inlays, indicating its ceremonial purpose rather than combat use.

Archaeologists note that such a pearl ring is unique: such luxurious zihgirs are known only in museum collections, for example, in Topkapi (the main palace of the Ottoman Empire), but the combination of materials and decoration discovered in Hasankeyf has no analogues.

Hasankeyf was an important cultural and commercial center for almost 12 thousand years, home to the Romans, Byzantines, Artuqids, Ayyubids and Ottomans. The discovery once again confirms its importance as a center of art and the political elite of the medieval Islamic world, the portal notes.

The Directorate General of Cultural Property of Turkey emphasized that archaeological work and conservation of monuments are of great importance for the preservation of national heritage, and the ring will become an important object for research into art, court culture and archery traditions in the Middle Ages.