The citadel of Ayanıs is situated on a hill 250m high (1866.87m in altitude) above Lake Van and 35km north of Tushpa, the capital city of the Urartians. During ongoing work at the castle between 1989 and 1997 various finds were made which belong to the period of the Urartian king Rusa II. An important group of mainly domestic pots, including a range of different shapes, were amongst these finds. Vessels such as pithoi, jars, bowls and jugs were frequently found in situ in rooms. Some of the pots found in certain areas of the citadel attract attention because of the potters' marks visible on them. During the work of the 1989–1997 seasons at Ayanıs, 2,787 pieces of Medieval and Iron Age pottery were registered. Of these sherds, 179 bear pot-marks.