Rare Aramaic Inscription Discovered in Rural Ardahan Undergoes Expert Analysis in Kars Museum
A rare Aramaic inscription uncovered in a remote village in Ardahan has been transferred to the Kars Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, where specialists have begun a full epigraphic assessment. The stone, preserved in remarkably good condition, represents the first documented example of an Aramaic text from the Kars–Ardahan highlands — a discovery that is already
A Rare Find at Kastabala: Philosopher Mask Appears Where It Normally Shouldn’t
In the heart of southern Türkiye, a quiet corner of the ancient city of Kastabala has produced a discovery that breaks with what archaeologists normally expect from Roman stage buildings. A newly uncovered stone mask—depicting an elderly thinker with sharply modelled features—has emerged from the theatre’s façade. And according to the excavation team, philosopher masks
Luwian-Hittite Inscription Reveals the Ancient Name of the İvriz Spring for the First Time
A newly published epigraphic study has resolved a long-standing question regarding one of central Anatolia’s most prominent sacred water sites. The re-analysis of a Luwian-Hittite hieroglyphic inscription on a Tarhunza stele discovered near İvriz (Ereğli, Konya) in 1986 confirms that the spring’s ancient name was “Sallusa.”The findings, presented in the latest issue of Gephyra, provide
Nemrut Mountain Turns White: Ancient Colossal Statues Reveal a New Winter Face
A sudden wave of snowfall has transformed Mount Nemrut in Türkiye’s Adıyaman province into a stark winter landscape, giving the world-famous colossal statues a striking new appearance. Perched at 2,206 meters and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mountain’s Hellenistic-era monuments—carved for the Kingdom of Commagene—took on an entirely different character under a
8,000-Year-Old Ceramic Workshop Unearthed in İzmir’s Ulucak Höyük Reveals Early Specialized Production
In the heart of modern industrial İzmir, surrounded by nearly 500 factories, archaeologists have brought to light a remarkable echo of humanity’s first producers. At Ulucak Höyük — the oldest known settlement in the region, dating back 8,850 years — a specialized ceramic production complex from 8,000 years ago has been unearthed. Led by Prof.
Before the Hittites: 8,000-Year-Old Rock Art Discovered in Central Anatolia
Archaeologists have discovered prehistoric rock engravings estimated to be around 8,000 years old in the Develi district of Kayseri, a region located in the heart of Central Anatolia. The discovery, now awaiting official registration, offers rare insight into one of the earliest symbolic traditions known in the region—long before the rise of the Hittite civilization.
5,000-Year-Old Earthquake Collapse Uncovered at Çayönü Mound in Southeastern Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating the prehistoric settlement of Çayönü Tepesi in Diyarbakır’s Ergani district have uncovered the remains of a building that collapsed during a powerful earthquake roughly 5,000 years ago — a rare glimpse into the seismic past of one of Anatolia’s earliest farming communities. Layers of a Forgotten Tremor The discovery was announced by Assoc.
Foundation of One of the Twelve Gates Built Against the Mongol Threat Unearthed in the Seljuk Capital Konya
Archaeological excavations in Türkiye’s central city of Konya have brought to light the foundation of one of the twelve monumental gates that once guarded the Seljuk capital during the reign of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I (r. 1220–1237). The newly uncovered structure, identified as the Larende Gate, formed part of the outer defensive walls commissioned by
Digital Pathways to the Hittite World: AI and Archaeology Unite to Decode an Ancient Empire
A new research initiative from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is reshaping how scholars study the Hittite Empire—one of the most formidable powers of Bronze Age Anatolia. The project, titled “Digital Pathways to the Hittite World,” merges archaeology, philology, and artificial intelligence to transform the long-standing Hethitologie-Portal Mainz (HPM) into a next-generation research platform. Rebuilding an Empire—Data
Letter of Roman Emperor Caracalla Discovered in the Walls of a 1950s House in Türkiye
A forgotten imperial inscription surfaces in a rural home near the ancient city of Takina In southwestern Türkiye, archaeologists have identified stones from a 1950s house that once formed part of a monumental Roman inscription — an imperial letter written on behalf of Emperor Caracalla (r. AD 198–217). The stones, taken decades ago from the