Gordion Furniture and Wooden Artifacts: A Window into Ancient Civilization

The discovery of a wooden bed from the tomb of King Midas at Gordion is a significant find, dating back to the 8th century BC.

This bed is one of the oldest known examples of a wooden bed, showcasing the advanced woodworking skills of the ancient Phrygians.

The wooden artifacts found at Gordion include a chariot, a wooden box, and a pair of wooden sandals, all of which demonstrate the expertise of the ancient craftsmen.

These artifacts provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people who lived in ancient Gordion.

The Gordion Furniture and Artifacts collection is a treasure trove of ancient wooden wonders.

More than one hundred wooden objects were recovered from the site, dating back to the eighth century BC. These artifacts were excavated from three early royal tumuli, Tumulus MM, Tumulus P, and Tumulus W, along with carbonized remains from the destruction level of the city mound.

The wood discovered by the Körte brothers was mainly furniture fragments, but they were too fragmentary to be well understood. In contrast, Young's excavations produced a spectacular collection of wooden furniture and other types of objects, many of which were in relatively good condition.

The Gordion Furniture Project team has been working tirelessly to study, conserve, and reconstruct the wooden artifacts since 1981. Over 40 archaeologists, conservators, scientists, and artists have been affiliated with the project, with funding from various foundations and individual donors.

Many of the wooden objects from Tumulus P are truly remarkable, including the "Tripod Tray Table" with its massive, boxwood tray-shaped top and three curved legs with stylized lion-paw feet. Nearby were the remains of another fancy table, called the "Mosaic Table" by Young due to its boldly inlaid table top.

The wooden finds from Tumulus P also include 12 small animals, including two lions, a lion and bull in combat, a griffin eating a fish, two bulls, and a leaping ram or goat – all likely toys for the tomb's young royal occupant. These charming objects give us a glimpse into the life and interests of the ancient Phrygians.

The Tumulus P burial also produced 21 or more pieces of furniture and 49 other wooden objects, including bronze vessels, fibulae, and belts, as well as iron implements, painted and monochrome pottery, and a glass bowl.

The inlaid furniture from Gordion is truly remarkable. It's made from a variety of woods, including boxwood, juniper, and walnut.

One of the most impressive pieces is the "Pagoda Table" or "Phrygian inlaid table" from Tumulus MM, which was excavated in 1957. It's a 46-piece table with three legs and three structural supports.

The table's frame and legs are made of boxwood, while the inlay is made of juniper. The tray-shaped top is made of walnut. The table's design is exotic and decorative, featuring geometric patterns like fields of squares or diamonds.

These patterns are not just aesthetically pleasing; they also have a deeper meaning. They're thought to be apotropaic and magical, suggesting that the table may have had a ritual function. The table's four handles make it a practical, portable banquet table.

Another interesting piece is the "Tripod Tray Table" from Tumulus P, which features a massive boxwood tray-shaped top with three curved legs and stylized lion-paw feet. Nearby was the "Mosaic Table" with a boldly inlaid table top made of boxwood boards and strips of yew.

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The inlaid furniture from Gordion is not just functional; it's also a testament to the craftsmanship and creativity of the ancient Phrygians. The use of different woods and inlays creates a unique and beautiful design that's still admired today.

In fact, many of the wooden objects from Tumulus P, including the inlaid table and stool, were reconstructed and are now on display in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.

The serving stands from Tumulus MM in Gordion, discovered in 1957, were originally thought to be "screens" but have since been reclassified as serving stands.

These stands feature large wooden rings that held small bronze cauldrons, of which ten were found nearby in the tomb. Two bronze ladles were also discovered near the stands, likely used to transfer the cauldrons' contents into other vessels.

The stands were made of boxwood, inlaid with juniper, and had walnut top pieces and curved "legs" set into the front faces. At the center of each face was an inlaid rosette, supported by two curved legs with stylized lion-paw feet.

The intricate designs on the stands included a grid of inlaid square designs surrounded by thousands of tiny diamonds and triangles. This complexity was achieved through a clever use of symmetry, with most of the square designs being symmetrical with respect to rotations of 180 degrees.

The Phrygian woodworkers who created these stands were clearly skilled and imaginative artisans with a strong mathematical orientation.

The furniture and wooden objects found in the Gordion tombs are truly remarkable. Many of these pieces were recovered from Tumulus P, a burial site that contained a wide variety of wooden artifacts.

The "Tripod Tray Table" was one of the most impressive pieces found in Tumulus P, featuring a massive boxwood tray-shaped top and three curved legs with stylized lion-paw feet. Nearby, the remains of the "Mosaic Table" were discovered, with its boldly inlaid table top made of boxwood boards joined edge to edge and inlaid with strips of yew in a pattern of squares and crosses.

In addition to these tables, the tomb also contained two plain tables, six or more stools, two footstools, a small chair or throne, and a carved and inlaid bed. The wooden finds also included a parasol, a box, eight spoons or ladles, and 23 plates and bowls.

The king's coffin was an open log coffin carved from a huge cedar log.

It had ledges extending out at both ends and was braced by four large pine blocks.

Inlaid rails were socketed into the sides of the coffin.

The remains of the coffin showed that it had been disassembled and its parts placed in the chamber in a different arrangement than their original positions.

This suggests that a funeral ceremony had taken place before the interment, and the coffin had been assembled and disassembled elsewhere.

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The wooden objects found in the Tumulus P burial are truly remarkable. Many of them are intricately carved and inlaid with various woods, such as boxwood and yew.

The "Tripod Tray Table" is a notable example, featuring a massive boxwood tray-shaped top and three curved legs with stylized lion-paw feet. Its large ring at the top adds to its ornate design.

The "Mosaic Table" is another impressive piece, with a table top made of boxwood boards inlaid with strips of yew in a pattern of squares and crosses. Its bold design makes it a standout among the other wooden finds.

The tomb also yielded a parasol, a box, eight spoons or ladles, and 23 plates and bowls, all made of wood. These everyday items give us a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who lived in ancient Gordion.

Twelve small wooden animals, including lions, a lion and bull in combat, and a griffin eating a fish, were also found in the tomb. These charming toys likely belonged to the young royal occupant of the tomb.

The wooden objects from Tumulus P are not only beautiful but also provide valuable insights into the craftsmanship and daily life of ancient Gordion.

Research on the Gordion wooden artifacts has been ongoing for over 30 years, yielding extensive information about the woods, tools, and techniques used by the royal cabinetmakers.

Conservation efforts have been led by a team of conservators, conservation scientists, and graduate student interns, who developed a preservation method using a dilute solution of Butvar B-98 to strengthen fragile wood.

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The team has successfully treated over 40 pieces of furniture and more than 50 wooden objects from the three tumuli at Gordion, and their work has been published in numerous research papers.

A wood species analysis has identified the woods used for the Gordion wooden artifacts, including boxwood, juniper, walnut, yew, and oak, as well as cedar and pine for the Tumulus MM coffin.

The analysis has also revealed important new information on the deterioration processes in ancient wood, which has helped scientists understand the types of degradation present in the wood and the causes of the decay.

Research and conservation efforts have been ongoing at Gordion since 1981, initiated by Robert Payton, now conservator at the Museum of London.

The preservation method developed by Payton was adapted and refined to treat over 40 pieces of furniture and more than 50 wooden objects from the three tumuli at Gordion.

A wood species analysis was begun in 1983 by Professor Burhan Aytuğ of Istanbul University, and is now under the direction of Professor Robert Blanchette, Department of Wood Pathology, University of Minnesota.

The analysis has identified the woods used for the Gordion wooden artifacts, which include boxwood, juniper, walnut, yew, and oak, as well as cedar and pine for the Tumulus MM coffin.

Conservation of the wooden artifacts required consolidation to strengthen the wood, using a dilute solution of Butvar B-98, a synthetic polymer based on polyvinyl butyral.

The same polymer was utilized in more concentrated form to carry out repairs, and glass microspheres were added to the solution to make a paste for filling gaps and reinforcing joins.

Study of the artifacts revealed that the wood was very fragile when handled, and that the preservation method developed by Payton was essential to their conservation.

The many fine wooden objects excavated at Gordion may serve to indicate the magnitude of our loss of most wooden artifacts from the archaeological record.

Research on the wooden objects from the Gordion tombs has yielded extensive information about the woods, tools, and techniques used by the royal cabinetmakers, who were surely among the greatest craftsmen of their time.

Data Management is crucial in preserving historical artifacts. The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations has a robust system in place for storing objects not on display.

Objects not on display are placed in custom-made steel storage cabinets made by Delta Designs, Ltd. These cabinets are shipped to Ankara and have a non-reactive coating to prevent damage.

The drawers in these cabinets are lined with a stable foam material, cut to conform to the shape of the pieces. This ensures the objects are protected from damage and maintain their shape.

In 1997, new display cases were made for the inlaid table, two serving stands, and an inlaid, studded stool. These cases are designed and constructed by MOB Mobilya Dekorasyon A.Ş., Ankara.

These display cases are made of Plexiglas mounts, which allow for the reassembly of the objects. This is crucial for studying and conserving the artifacts.

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