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Anatolian News . Central Anatolia
Written by David Ramirez
A little-known highland site in central Türkiye is emerging as one of Cappadocia’s most intriguing historical landscapes. Recent work at Meryem Ana Mountain, a 1,603-meter peak near Ürgüp, has brought to light a large rock-cut complex and clear evidence of long-term religious use, reshaping understanding of the area’s cultural depth. Located between the villages of
A remarkably small yet technologically advanced Hittite storm god figurine, dating back around 3,500 years, has gone on public display for the first time in central Türkiye. Measuring just 7.65 centimeters, the object is already drawing attention for what specialists describe as an unusual combination of miniature scale and complex engineering. Discovered by chance in
A marble head carved in ancient Smyrna nearly 1,600 years ago has finally returned to Türkiye, decades after it was taken abroad under unclear circumstances. The artifact, now confirmed to have originated from the Smyrna Agora, was repatriated from the Denver Art Museum following extensive scientific and archival research. Dating to the 5th century AD,
In ancient Anatolia, paying rent was not just about money. A newly studied 2,200-year-old contract from Amos Ancient City shows that tenants were required to plant hundreds of vines and dozens of fig trees—with even the depth of each sapling carefully prescribed. The inscription, now housed in the Fethiye Archaeological Museum, was recovered from a
Archaeologists working at Perge Ancient City have unearthed a striking architectural feature described as “death gates,” revealing that the city’s monumental stadium was later transformed into an arena used for executions, animal hunts, and staged spectacles during the Late Roman period. The discovery suggests that the structure was not merely reused, but deliberately redesigned to
Recent fieldwork in central Anatolia has significantly expanded the archaeological understanding of the Binbir Kilise (Thousand and One Churches) region, located on the slopes of Karadağ, north of Karaman. A survey led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Mete Mimiroğlu of Necmettin Erbakan University has identified at least 15 previously undocumented churches and chapels, alongside additional
A major restoration project at the historic Sivas Ulu Cami has reached a decisive stage, as work intensifies on its iconic leaning minaret, a structure that has defined the city’s skyline for more than eight centuries. Ongoing conservation efforts, led by regional heritage authorities, are now focusing on stabilizing and preserving the minaret’s exterior—an intervention
One of the largest synagogues of the ancient world still stands at Sardis—its vast mosaic floors stretching across nearly 1,400 square meters, quietly preserving the footprint of a once-powerful Jewish community in Roman Anatolia. Set within one of the city’s most prominent public complexes, the structure does more than impress with its scale. It reveals
For centuries, Sillyon stood as a city few could reach—let alone conquer. Now, with the restoration of its Hellenistic walls, that reputation is becoming visible once again. Perched on a steep plateau in the Serik district of Antalya, Sillyon Ancient City was never an ordinary settlement. Its defensive strength began with geography. Sheer slopes and
A historic stone arch bridge in Rize, long buried beneath layers of road construction, has re-emerged during ongoing urban redevelopment works. Dating back to 1826, the structure had remained hidden for decades—preserved beneath asphalt and fill—until recent excavations brought it back into view. The bridge, locally known as the “Çitanın Bridge,” was uncovered along a
Discovered in the ancient city of Daphne (Harbiye) in southern Türkiye, the 4th-century Khresis Mosaic offers more than a decorative scene. It captures a moment where myth, wealth, and power intersect—rooted in the enduring memory of Troy’s legendary riches. Today, the mosaic is displayed at the Hatay Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum, where it stands out
