Obscure civilizations you forgot about

The Urartu: Fortress Builders of Eastern Anatolia

The Urartian kingdom, centered around Lake Van in present-day Turkey, flourished between the 9th and 6th centuries BCE. Renowned for their impressive fortresses and advanced irrigation systems, the Urartians were skilled engineers and architects.

Their capital, Tushpa, featured massive stone walls and temples, showcasing their construction prowess. Although eventually absorbed by the Assyrian Empire, the Urartians’ architectural and engineering innovations left a lasting imprint on the region.