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
A 5,000-Year-Old Pithos Grave in Küllüoba Reveals a Hand Relief with a Missing Finger — A Possible Symbol of Mourning
Archaeologists working at Küllüoba Mound in Türkiye’s Eskişehir province have uncovered a striking find that sheds light on the emotional world of Early Bronze Age communities. A 5,000-year-old pithos grave (burial jar) features a hand relief with one finger missing — a detail researchers believe may symbolize an ancient expression of grief or mourning. The
Third Roman Hippodrome in Anatolia Unearthed Beneath the City of Kayseri
Archaeological research conducted in central Türkiye has uncovered the remains of a Roman-era hippodrome beneath the modern city of Kayseri — marking the third known example of such a monumental structure in Anatolia. The discovery offers rare insight into the architectural and social fabric of ancient Caesarea, the capital of the Kingdom of Cappadocia and
Archaeologists Trace Proto-Turkic Presence in Central Anatolia Back 2,600 Years at Kerkenes Mound
In a groundbreaking revelation from the heart of Türkiye, archaeologists working at the Kerkenes Mound in Yozgat’s Sorgun district have uncovered evidence suggesting that the architectural and cultural roots of Proto-Turkic peoples in Anatolia may reach as far back as 2,600 years. The discovery, led by Prof. Dr. Şevket Dönmez under the Ministry of Culture
The 3,200-Year-Old Hittite Water Monument Still Flows Despite Drought: Eflatunpınar Defies Time
In the district of Beyşehir in Konya, central Türkiye, the Eflatunpınar Hittite Water Monument, commissioned by King Tuthaliya IV around 1200 BCE, continues to flow after 3,200 years — a striking testament to ancient Anatolian engineering that still resists modern drought. Built directly over a natural spring, the monument combines sophisticated hydraulic planning with deeply
1,300-Year-Old Communion Bread Unearthed in Karaman: Inscribed “With Gratitude to Blessed Jesus”
Archaeologists have unearthed 1,300-year-old Communion bread — decorated barley loaves used in early Christian rituals — in the ancient city of Topraktepe (Eirenepolis), located in Türkiye’s Karaman province.The excavations, conducted under the supervision of the Karaman Museum Directorate and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, uncovered five charred loaves dating to the 7th–8th centuries
9-Million-Year-Old Giraffe Skull Unearthed in Türkiye’s Çankırı Region: Almost Perfectly Preserved
Archaeologists in central Türkiye have uncovered a nearly complete giraffe skull dating back around 9 million years. The discovery, made at the Çorakyerler Vertebrate Fossil Site, may represent a previously unknown species. A nearly complete giraffe skull fossil estimated to be 9 million years old has been unearthed in Türkiye’s Çankırı province, at the Çorakyerler
Seljuk Traces in St. Paul’s Lystra: Oldest Examples of the Evil Eye Bead Found
Archaeological excavations in Lystra, the ancient city known from the Bible as one of the places visited by St. Paul the Apostle, have revealed Seljuk-era traces and turquoise-colored “evil eye” beads inside children’s graves. Researchers believe these beads represent a cultural bridge — where Turkic beliefs merged with earlier Anatolian traditions, giving birth to the
Unbroken Life Through the Ages: 8,000 Years of Continuous Settlement Unearthed at Gökhöyük in Konya
Archaeologists in Türkiye’s central province of Konya have uncovered evidence of an extraordinary 8,000-year span of continuous human habitation at Gökhöyük (also known as Kanal Höyük), located in the Seydişehir district. First identified by British archaeologist James Mellaart in 1954, the site reveals settlement layers dating from the 7th millennium BCE to the 1st millennium
3,200-Year-Old Hittite Sculpture Workshop in Yozgat Damaged by Looters
A 3,200-year-old Hittite sculpture workshop in Karakız, a village in Sorgun district of Yozgat, Türkiye, is being ravaged by illegal excavations. A basalt lion statue—one of the few surviving examples of Hittite stonework in the region—has been severely damaged by treasure hunters, raising urgent calls for protection. Archaeologists have identified the site as a rare