Historians believe they have unearthed tombs dating back over 2,800 years in Van, present-day eastern Turkey, The Daily Mail reports.

The pithos burial chambers, which are like large ceramic jars, are thought to be from the Kingdom of Uratu, which ruled from the mid-ninth century BC until its defeat by the Medes.

Van was the capital of the Urartian Kingdom until it fell early in the sixth century BC.

Every summer a team of around 50 archaeologists take part in an annual excavation at Van Fortress in a bid to uncover treasures that have been buried for thousands of years.

With permission from the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism university teams have been working together.

They are currently working at the top of the fortress, where a palace was located, and the northern quarter.

Just 38km from Van excavation work is also taking place at Uratu Castle. This year they discovered part of the walls.

Urartu or Kingdom of Van was an Iron Age Kingdom in the Armenian Plateau.

By 9th c. BC the Urartu kingdom had established its regional power far beyond its capital at Tushpa (present day Van), invading Mesopotamia, and unifying the tribes in the Armenian plateau into one centralized state.

The rise of the empire of Urartu is centered around three kings: Menua, Argishti and Sardur I.

Remains of the Urartian Empire in Armenia include the citadels of Erebuni, Karmir Blur, Armavir (Argishtikhinili), and three fortified cities on Lake Sevan.