Archaeologists identify ancient battle site of Alexander the Great in Turkey

Archaeologists believe they have located the site of Alexander the Great's historic Battle of the Granicus in northwest Turkey.

Situated approximately 10 kilometers north of the modern-day town of Biga, the battlefield marks the site of Alexander's decisive victory over the Persian Empire in 334 B.C. This triumph provided Alexander with a crucial foothold in Persian territory, marking a turning point in his military campaign and altering the course of ancient history.

Key evidence includes remnants of the ancient city of Hermaion, thought to have been Alexander's final encampment before the battle. This discovery is based on the work of Reyhan Körpe, an archaeology professor at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, and his team, who analysed historical texts alongside modern geomorphological studies.

The Granicus River, central to the battle, was found to have maintained its ancient course, while surrounding marshy areas were dismissed as unlikely locations.

Hermaion also yielded significant findings, such as human bones unearthed in 2024 by local farmers. These remains, thought to belong to Persian Greek mercenaries, are currently undergoing testing to determine their age and cause of death. The lack of grave markers suggests they were hastily buried after the conflict.

The research team has announced plans to conduct geophysical surveys and detailed excavations to uncover more artifacts and deepen understanding of the battlefield. These investigations aim to shed light on Alexander’s strategies and the broader implications of his conquest on ancient civilizations.