Ancient Shops Unearthed in Antioch Reveal Trade and Pilgrimage in Early Christianity
Rescue excavations in the ancient city of Antioch (Antiocheia), in modern Hatay, Türkiye, are shedding new light on the city’s economic and religious life during the 4th and 5th centuries CE. Recent discoveries near the world-famous St. Peter’s Church demonstrate that the site was not only a spiritual center for early Christian pilgrims but also
A 5,000-Year-Old Pottery Fragment With a Human Face was Discovered in Konya
Archaeologists excavating Gökhöyük, near Seydişehir in Türkiye’s Konya province, have uncovered a pottery fragment dating back about 5,000 years. What makes the find remarkable is the depiction of a human face carved onto its surface—a rare ritual object rather than an ordinary household vessel. A Settlement Spanning 7,000 Years Gökhöyük, first identified in the 1950s
Myra’s Roman Theatre to Be Rebuilt Using Original Stones in Antalya
The ancient city of Myra, one of the six leading cities of the Lycian League, is preparing to restore its iconic 11,000-seat Roman theatre to its original grandeur. Located in the Demre district of Antalya, Türkiye, the site is undergoing an ambitious conservation and restoration project under the Heritage for the Future initiative by the
Ancient Church Dating Back 1,700 Years Discovered in Diyarbakır: Evidence of Byzantine Expansion East of the Euphrates
Archaeologists working in Türkiye’s southeastern Kulp district have uncovered the remains of a Roman-era church built around the mid-4th century A.D.. The discovery, made during excavations led by the Diyarbakır Museum Directorate, has provided striking evidence of Byzantine activity far beyond the traditional boundaries of the empire. The site, located in the rural village of
From Central Asia to the Balkans: Ram and Sheep-Shaped Tombstones Go on Display in Diyarbakır for the First Time
The Diyarbakır Museum has unveiled ram and sheep-shaped tombstones that had remained in storage for 91 years. These sculpted stones, carved from basalt and limestone, were not only markers of the dead but also symbols of identity, gender, and social status in medieval Anatolia. Founded in 1934, the Diyarbakır Museum is one of Türkiye’s oldest
Baptistery Discovered in Antandros: From Roman Villa to Christian Rituals
A significant archaeological discovery has been made in the ancient city of Antandros, located in Türkiye’s Balıkesir province near the slopes of Mount Ida (Kazdağları). Excavations revealed that a structure originally built as part of a Roman villa was later converted into a baptistery following Christianity’s recognition as the official religion of the Roman Empire
After a 6,000-Year-Old Temple, Roman-Era Road Discovered at Tadım Castle
Archaeologists excavating Tadım Castle, located 12 kilometers south of Elazığ, have uncovered a Roman-era stone-paved road, believed to have been used by kings or members of the nobility. The road features edge curbs and carefully laid paving stones, indicating it was reserved for high-ranking individuals of the period. This discovery follows the unearthing of a
1,600-Year-Old Saint George Church in Diyarbakır Reopens as Art Gallery After Earthquake Restoration
In Diyarbakır’s historic İçkale district, the 1,600-year-old Saint George Church has risen again after suffering severe damage in the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023. Originally built in the 4th century CE by the Romans as an administrative church, the structure will reopen on August 10 as an art gallery. The restoration, led by the
Water Flows Again After 1,900 Years in the Roman Bath of the “City of Gladiators” Stratonikeia
In a scene that revived the grandeur of antiquity, water has flowed once more into the Roman bath of Stratonikeia — known as the “City of Gladiators” — after 1,900 years. Following meticulous excavation and restoration works, the pool was refilled using its original water channel, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the engineering of
From the Neolithic Age to the Present: The Discovery of the “Vessel Within a Vessel” at Karahantepe is Revolutionizing Historical Narratives
An extraordinary collection of 485 pieces from the Karahantepe region of Şanlıurfa was featured at the International Archaeology Symposium and “The Golden Age of Archaeology” exhibition held at the Presidential National Library in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye. Among these, a unique stone vessel containing a smaller vessel stands out as the oldest and most