160-Year-Old Church in Çeşme Turned Into Parking Lot: 300-Year-Old Statue Stolen
In the Altınyunus district of Çeşme, İzmir, a small 19th-century church has been left to decay after decades of neglect. Once home to a rare 300-year-old architectural statue of Jesus, the site has been looted, vandalized, and even turned into an informal parking lot. Forgotten Heritage on the Aegean Coast Estimated to have been built
Tomb of Menodora, One of Rome’s Most Generous Women, Unearthed in Sillyon, Antalya
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Sillyon in Antalya’s Serik district have uncovered the tomb of Menodora, a wealthy Roman benefactor known for financing public buildings and establishing a foundation for children. The discovery sheds new light on the role of women in urban development during the Roman Empire. The excavation, led by Assoc. Prof.
83 Roman Coins Repatriated from the United States to Türkiye
Eighty-three Roman-era coins minted in Anatolia during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD have been returned to Turkey following a joint effort between the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The repatriation was formally announced at a ceremony held at the Republic Museum in Ankara. Minted in Anatolia,
11th-Century Graves Unearthed in Kayseri’s Monumental Roman Mosaic Villa
Archaeologists excavating in İncesu, Kayseri, have uncovered children’s and adult burials dating to the 11th century within Central Anatolia’s largest Roman mosaic site. The discovery shows that a villa first built in the 3rd–4th centuries CE remained in use until the medieval period. Excavations in Örenşehir, İncesu district of Kayseri, have revealed a striking overlap
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