A 3,000-year-old oven was found in Arslantepe Mound.

Arslantepe Mound Excavation Team Head Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi Restelli told an Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent that this year's work began in August and focused on the north of the mound.

Restelli stated that they found a tandoor-like oven below the surface for cooking meat during the excavations and that they encountered similar structures in the same region in 2022.

Restelli stated that they are excited to have uncovered important findings that will shed light on food history, and added:

"We found two tandoor-like structures inside a building from the Late Hittite period, but we realized they were not normal tandoors because they were placed underground. Inside, we found oven legs made of baked clay and many animal bones. This showed us that these ovens were used for cooking, not bread. This year, we unearthed a third example. It dates back to 1100-1000 BC."

Restelli stated that the ovens in question were used to cook meat dishes, saying, "I think it was a method similar to paper kebabs. They put the meat inside, covered it with a terracotta lid, and cooked it for hours, even all night."

Restelli, noting the striking similarities between that period and today's food culture, said, "I am inviting the chefs from Malatya here because there is a very similar food culture here. There are clear connections between the place where we are excavating and life today. This is very important."