Archaeologists have identified the site of the historic battle of Alexander the Great more than 2300 years ago

A research team has discovered the exact location of the ancient battlefield of the historic battle of Alexander the Great. The Battle of Granicus took place in 334 BC, more than 2,300 years ago.

According to News Week, citing Türkiye Today, archaeologists say that this important battle took place near the Biga River in the province of Canakkale in northwestern Turkey. In ancient times, the river was known as the Granicus.

This battle was Alexander's first major victory during his campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire. It was historically significant because it marked the beginning of the legendary commander's conquest of Asia Minor, a historical region that corresponds to much of modern-day Turkey.

His success paved the way for further victories that eventually led to the fall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. And it laid the groundwork for the Hellenization of large swaths of Asia, which had a lasting impact on the regions Alexander conquered.

Alexander the Great ruled the ancient Kingdom of Macedon, located in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, between 336 BC and his death in 323 BC at the age of 32. During his reign, he conducted extensive military campaigns, creating one of the largest empires ever seen, from Greece to northwestern India. Undefeated in battle, he is considered one of the most successful generals in history.

"The Battle of Hranik is considered one of the most important moments in world history," says Reyhan Korpe, an archaeologist at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University (ÇOMU) in Turkey. It was he who initiated a project twenty years ago to determine the exact location of the battle, which has now been implemented.

"Our research, combined with a careful reading of ancient sources, allowed us to determine the exact location of the battle, the villages that participated, and its location on the plains," says Korpe.

The research also helped determine the route by which Alexander and his troops arrived at the battlefield. According to the archaeologist, it started from the village of Ozbek, crossing Umurbey, Lapseki, and eventually descended to the plain of Biga.

After the opening, the battlefield is planned to be turned into a tourist attraction as part of the Alexander the Great Cultural Route project.

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