Terracotta Figurines of Myra Return Home After 2,100 Years
Unearthed in the ancient city’s Hellenistic layers, the colorful terracottas are now displayed where they were first crafted — inside Myra’s ancient theater. In the heart of Lycia, a collection of delicate terracotta figurines discovered in the ancient city of Myra has been unveiled to the public for the first time. The exhibition, titled “Terracotta
Night Museum Experience Begins in Sardis, the Ancient City Where Money Was First Minted
The ancient city of Sardis, once the glittering capital of the Lydian Kingdom and the birthplace of the world’s first coinage, is stepping into a new era. Following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025, the site has completed an extensive illumination project that now allows visitors to explore its ruins
In the 1700th Anniversary of Christianity’s Recognition as an Official Religion, the Basilica Beneath Lake İznik (Nicaea) Opens to Visitors
On the 1700th anniversary of Christianity’s recognition as an official religion, an early Christian basilica submerged beneath Lake İznik (ancient Nicaea, northwestern Türkiye) has officially opened to visitors.Discovered in 2014 through aerial photography and later named one of the Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of the Year by the Archaeological Institute of America, the site now
1,500-Year-Old Greek Mosaic Unearthed at Urfa Castle Reveals Names of Early Byzantine Clergy
Archaeologists working at the ancient Urfa Castle in southeastern Türkiye have uncovered a 5th-century Greek-inscribed floor mosaic decorated with intricate plant, animal, and geometric motifs. The discovery, believed to belong to a small church, chapel, or martyr shrine, provides new insights into the religious and social hierarchy of the early Byzantine city of Edessa —
Ancient Roman Power in Stone: Archaeologists Unearth Monumental Water Basin at Gabii Near Rome
Archaeologists from the University of Missouri have uncovered a monumental stone basin in the ancient city of Gabii, just 18 kilometers east of Rome — a find that may represent one of the earliest known examples of Roman monumental architecture. Built around 250 B.C., the vast basin carved partly into bedrock is believed to have
1,500-Year-Old Mosaic Unearthed Beneath a Historic Mill in Midyat May Reveal Early Byzantine Administrator’s Residence
A 1,500-year-old mosaic floor discovered beneath a historic mill in southeastern Türkiye’s Midyat district may have once belonged to an early Byzantine official named Tittos Domestikos.The find marks the first mosaic ever uncovered along the Midyat–Nusaybin corridor, a region better known for its ancient fortresses and caravanserais. The discovery was made in Sivrice (Beyazsu area),
2,000-Year-Old Tombs in Hierapolis Restored to Their Original Form
Archaeologists have completed a 100% authentic restoration in the Northern Necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis, revealing the grandeur of Anatolia’s most impressive “city of the dead.” Archaeologists in Türkiye have completed the full restoration of 2,000-year-old tombs in the Northern Necropolis of Hierapolis—one of the largest and best-preserved ancient burial grounds in the
Echoes of the First City-State in Anatolia: Arslantepe’s 5,500-Year-Old Seal Exhibited for the First Time
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arslantepe Mound in eastern Türkiye is once again in the spotlight — this time for two extraordinary artifacts that bridge the dawn of civilization with the modern age. As part of the Culture Route Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the “102 Artifacts for the
Unique in the World: The Eros Mosaic from Yumurtalık Shows the God of Love Fishing on a Hippocampus
Discovered during rescue excavations in 2013 in the coastal town of Yumurtalık (ancient Aegeai) in southern Türkiye, the mosaic depicts the love god Eros fishing while riding a Hippocampus—a half-horse, half-fish sea creature. Scholars describe it as a one-of-a-kind example in the entire Mediterranean world. From rescue excavation to museum The mosaic was unearthed in
Arslantepe Mound: New Clues to the World’s First State System
The ancient site of Arslantepe in Malatya, Türkiye, continues to reshape our understanding of early civilization. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021, the mound has been excavated for over 65 years by Italian archaeologists and is recognized as the birthplace of one of the world’s earliest state systems. Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi