21-05-2025
Japanese archaeologist who studied origins of ironmaking in Turkey dies
Japanese archaeologist Omura Sachihiro, who studied the origins of ironmaking in Turkey, has died. He was 78.
Omura was born in the northern Japanese city of Morioka. After graduating from Waseda University, he went to study in Turkey and took part in numerous archaeological surveys.
He led a project to unearth the Kaman-Kalehoyuk ruins in central Turkey for 40 years from 1985.
Omura's team discovered pieces of metal at the site from a stratum dating from the 24th to the 22nd centuries B.C. The team announced that the findings could be the world's oldest artificial iron.
Omura served as head of the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology, an affiliate of the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan. The institute was set up near the Kaman-Kalehoyuk site in 1988.
Omura trained researchers and students as archaeologists, and helped open a museum to display the unearthed artifacts. He played a key role in promoting Turkish archaeology.
Omura was in Tokyo in March to report on his latest findings.
Institute officials say Omura fell ill on Tuesday in Turkey, and died at the hospital where he was taken.
