Bronze Age Breakthrough in Anatolia: 3,900-Year-Old Indigo Textile and Single-Needle Knitting Unearthed at Beycesultan
A charred scrap of fabric from western Anatolia is forcing archaeologists to rethink the technological sophistication of the Bronze Age. At Beycesultan Höyük, a major mound settlement in inland western Türkiye, researchers have identified the earliest known indigo-dyed textile in Bronze Age Anatolia—alongside the region’s first evidence of a complex single-needle knitting technique known as
2,200-Year-Old Assembly Building at Aigai Enters Conservation Phase in Western Türkiye
High on the slopes of Yunt Mountain in western Türkiye, a silent stone structure once echoed with debate. Today, the 2,200-year-old bouleuterion—Aigai’s ancient assembly building—is preparing for a new chapter: conservation and restoration. Located in the Yunusemre district of Manisa, the ancient city of Aigai has been under excavation since 2004. According to excavation director
The Most Important Oracle of the Aiolis Region: The 2,300-Year-Old Temple of Apollo Khresterios at Aigai
Hidden deep within a rural valley of western Türkiye, far from modern roads and urban pressure, the Temple of Apollo Khresterios stands as one of the most intact and enigmatic oracle centers of the ancient world. Located near the ancient city of Aigai, the sanctuary played a central role in the religious life of the
Pygela Necropolis in Kuşadası Granted First-Degree Archaeological Protection
A previously overlooked burial landscape connected to the ancient city of Pygela, near modern-day Kuşadası in western Türkiye, has now been officially designated a First-Degree Archaeological Site. The decision places the Otuzbirler Mevkii Necropolis under the highest level of legal protection, reflecting growing recognition of the area’s archaeological sensitivity and future research potential. Official designation
8,700 Early Turkish Akıncı Graves Unearthed at Gallipoli, Illuminating Europe’s 14th-Century Frontier
Archaeological research on the Gelibolu (Gallipoli) Peninsula has revealed a discovery of exceptional historical weight: a vast cemetery belonging to the first Turkish raiders who crossed from Anatolia into Rumelia during the early 14th century. Identified near Küçükanafarta village in the Eceabat district, the burial ground documents the earliest known physical footprint of Turks in
Late Roman Mosaic with Protective “Solomon’s Knot” Discovered at Ancient Smyrna
Archaeologists working in the center of modern İzmir have uncovered a rare Late Roman mosaic floor featuring the Solomon’s knot, a symbol long associated with protection against misfortune and the evil eye. The discovery was made during ongoing excavations at Smyrna, one of western Anatolia’s most important Greco-Roman urban centers. Found along Smyrna’s main ancient
1,800-Year-Old Head of Hermes Statue Unearthed at Laodikeia in Western Anatolia
Excavations at the ancient city of Laodikeia, located near modern-day Denizli in western Anatolia, have revealed a finely carved marble head belonging to a statue of Hermes, dating back approximately 1,800 years. The discovery was made in the eastern entrance corridor of the city’s Bouleuterion, or council house—an area closely associated with civic authority and
Assyrian Goddess Ishtar Emerges on a Silver Pendant at the Ancient Port of Amos
At the ancient port city of Amos, overlooking the Gulf of Gökova on Türkiye’s southwestern coast, archaeologists have uncovered a rare silver pendant bearing symbols associated with the Assyrian goddess Ishtar. Small in scale but rich in meaning, the object offers new evidence for the cultural reach of Near Eastern belief systems into coastal Anatolia
2,500-Year-Old Carian Rock-Cut Tomb in Marmaris Placed Under Protection
A 2,500-year-old rock-cut tomb in Marmaris, southwestern Türkiye, has been formally secured under heritage protection following a conservation-focused intervention led by local authorities and academic specialists. The monument, known as the Yeşilbelde Rock Tomb, has been registered as a protected cultural asset and stabilized against environmental and structural risks. Located in Yeşilbelde neighborhood, the tomb
At Nysa, the Road to Knowledge Emerges Again: 1,800-Year-Old Steps to a Roman Library Revealed
In the early hours of the excavation season, as the soil was carefully lifted from a Roman street in western Anatolia, a forgotten route resurfaced — one that once led directly to knowledge itself. At Nysa Ancient City, archaeologists have uncovered a set of marble steps dating back roughly 1,800 years, revealing how ancient visitors