Meryem Ana Mountain in Cappadocia Reveals 93-Room Rock-Cut Complex, Ancient Sacred Site
A little-known highland site in central Türkiye is emerging as one of Cappadocia’s most intriguing historical landscapes. Recent work at Meryem Ana Mountain, a 1,603-meter peak near Ürgüp, has brought to light a large rock-cut complex and clear evidence of long-term religious use, reshaping understanding of the area’s cultural depth. Located between the villages of
Rare 1,500-Year-Old Knife Set Found Together in Hadrianopolis Reveals Deep Roots of Animal Husbandry
Archaeologists working at Hadrianopolis often referred to as the “Black Sea’s Zeugma” have uncovered a rare knife set found together in a single context, offering new insight into daily life in Late Antiquity. The discovery was made in a kitchen area within the Bath Complex, where four iron knives of similar type but different sizes
17th-Century Dutch Bronze Ship Cannon Discovered During Shipbreaking in İzmir Goes on Display
A routine shipbreaking operation in western Türkiye has led to an unexpected historical discovery: a 17th-century Dutch bronze ship cannon and its ammunition, found hidden inside a vessel dismantled in İzmir. The artifacts, uncovered by chance, are now on public display for the first time. Hidden Inside a Modern Vessel The discovery was made in
3,500-Year-Old Hittite Storm God Figurine Unearthed in Türkiye Goes on Display for the First Time
A remarkably small yet technologically advanced Hittite storm god figurine, dating back around 3,500 years, has gone on public display for the first time in central Türkiye. Measuring just 7.65 centimeters, the object is already drawing attention for what specialists describe as an unusual combination of miniature scale and complex engineering. Discovered by chance in
Roman Marble Head Illicitly Taken from Smyrna Returned to Türkiye from U.S. Museum After Decades
A marble head carved in ancient Smyrna nearly 1,600 years ago has finally returned to Türkiye, decades after it was taken abroad under unclear circumstances. The artifact, now confirmed to have originated from the Smyrna Agora, was repatriated from the Denver Art Museum following extensive scientific and archival research. Dating to the 5th century AD,
2,200-Year-Old Contract from Amos Reveals Strict Farming Rules in Ancient Anatolia
In ancient Anatolia, paying rent was not just about money. A newly studied 2,200-year-old contract from Amos Ancient City shows that tenants were required to plant hundreds of vines and dozens of fig trees—with even the depth of each sapling carefully prescribed. The inscription, now housed in the Fethiye Archaeological Museum, was recovered from a
‘Death Gates’ Unearthed in Perge: Ancient Stadium Transformed into Execution Arena
Archaeologists working at Perge Ancient City have unearthed a striking architectural feature described as “death gates,” revealing that the city’s monumental stadium was later transformed into an arena used for executions, animal hunts, and staged spectacles during the Late Roman period. The discovery suggests that the structure was not merely reused, but deliberately redesigned to
15 Newly Identified Churches at Binbir Kilise (Karadağ) Expand Understanding of Byzantine Sacred Landscapes in Central Anatolia
Recent fieldwork in central Anatolia has significantly expanded the archaeological understanding of the Binbir Kilise (Thousand and One Churches) region, located on the slopes of Karadağ, north of Karaman. A survey led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlker Mete Mimiroğlu of Necmettin Erbakan University has identified at least 15 previously undocumented churches and chapels, alongside additional
833-Year-Old Leaning Minaret of Sivas Ulu Cami Enters Critical Restoration Phase
A major restoration project at the historic Sivas Ulu Cami has reached a decisive stage, as work intensifies on its iconic leaning minaret, a structure that has defined the city’s skyline for more than eight centuries. Ongoing conservation efforts, led by regional heritage authorities, are now focusing on stabilizing and preserving the minaret’s exterior—an intervention
Massive Sardis Synagogue with Vast Mosaics Reveals Jewish Presence in Roman Anatolia
One of the largest synagogues of the ancient world still stands at Sardis—its vast mosaic floors stretching across nearly 1,400 square meters, quietly preserving the footprint of a once-powerful Jewish community in Roman Anatolia. Set within one of the city’s most prominent public complexes, the structure does more than impress with its scale. It reveals