3,000-Year-Old Public Building Unearthed in Soğmatar, the Sacred City of the Moon God Sin
Archaeologists in southeastern Türkiye have unearthed a 3,000-year-old public building in Soğmatar, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to the Moon God Sin. The discovery, made under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future Project”, pushes the history of the site back to the Neo-Assyrian period, revealing new layers in the spiritual and administrative
Unique Architectural Detail Unveiled: The “Fingerprint Dome” of Saint George Church Reopens in Diyarbakır
The 1,800-year-old Saint George Church in Diyarbakır has reopened after a meticulous restoration, revealing a striking architectural feature: a brick dome resembling a human fingerprint. Believed to carry the personal mark of its ancient architect, the structure is drawing thousands of visitors and renewed global attention. Located within the historic İçkale Museum Complex, the Saint
Archaeologists Identify the Burial Chamber of Georgian King Ashot the Great at Gevhernik Castle
Archaeologists working at Gevhernik Castle in Ardanuç, northeastern Türkiye, have identified a vaulted burial chamber beneath the apse of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, believed to be the long-lost tomb of Georgian King Ashot I (Ashot the Great, Kuropalates) — a pivotal ruler in the formation of medieval Georgia.The discovery provides the first
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