A 7,000-year-old tomb unearthed at the temple of Apollon smintheus inthe northwestern province of Canakkale’s Ayvacik district could hold secrets to ancient burial methods. Excavations are headed by Professor Coşkun Özgünel with the participation of the head of Canakkale’s Onsekiz Mart University’s Archaeology Department Professor Turan Takaoğlu.

The tomb is an important discovery for the area’s archaeological history as it gives crucial information about burial methods. The bodies were laid in the tombs in a fetal positions with ceramics placed next to them as gifts. They were covered with stones.

The Apollon Smitheus Temple is located in the Bahçeleriçi area, in a valley northwest and northeast of Gülpinar village in Ayvacik. It was built in the later half of the 2nd century B.C. and was a sacred place designed by architect Hermogenes with eight columns at both the front and back of the temple and 14 columns along its sides.
The temple has three chambers, including a sacred front chamber (pronaos), a sacred room (naos) and a back chamber (opisthodomos), as well as the statue of the god Apollon by Greek sculptor Skopas.

Ancient geographer and traveler Strabo refered to the site 2,000 years ago in his book, “Geographica. He said Ions came from Greece and surrounded the city as a host of rats came from the underground at night to gnaw away at their weapons and equipment, causing the Ions to lose the war. As a sign of appreciation to the gods, the residents of the area built the temple to Apollon.