A Unique Artuqid-Era Ivory Archer’s Ring Discovered at Hasankeyf’s Great Palace
Archaeological excavations at Hasankeyf during the 2025 field season have yielded an exceptional discovery that sheds new light on elite culture in medieval Anatolia. In the southeastern corner of the Great Palace complex, researchers uncovered a rare ivory archer’s ring (zihgir) dating to the Artuqid period (12th–13th century)—a find described as unique both in material
Rare 1,800-Year-Old Domed Roman Tomb Unearthed in Southeastern Anatolia
An archaeological discovery in southeastern Anatolia has brought to light a rare and architecturally sophisticated funerary structure. In the rural landscape of Besni, a district of Adıyaman, museum experts have identified a domed tomb chamber dating to the 2nd century CE—approximately 1,800 years ago—marking one of the most notable funerary finds ever recorded in the
Excavations Begin at the Late Roman Rabat Castle Built to Protect Key Trade Routes
Archaeological excavations have begun at Rabat Castle, a Late Roman–period stronghold rising 955 meters above sea level in the Derik district of Mardin. Spreading across roughly 5.5 hectares, the fortress occupies a commanding position overlooking routes that once connected Anatolia with Upper Mesopotamia. Archaeological assessments indicate that Rabat Castle was constructed during the Late Roman
Restoration Works to Expand at Zerzevan Castle, the Easternmost Garrison of the Roman Empire
Restoration efforts are set to enter a new phase at Zerzevan Castle, one of the most strategically significant military installations on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire. While conservation work continues at the southern tower and the large basilica, plans are in place to extend restoration next year to the underground church, the Mithras
The 9,000-Year-Old Figurines of Gürcütepe Illuminate Life After Göbeklitepe
The first light over the Harran Plain has a way of turning everything into pale gold. From a distance, Gürcütepe looks like nothing more than a gentle rise in the landscape—quiet, unassuming, easy to miss. Yet beneath its surface lies one of the most revealing chapters in the story of how early societies redefined themselves
Hikers Stumble Upon a Mysterious Underground Mosque of Unknown Date in Batman’s Gömek Plateau
What began as a routine nature walk in the rugged highlands of Batman turned into one of the region’s most unexpected heritage discoveries in recent years. A group of hikers and local villagers exploring the Gömek Plateau near the dramatic ravine known as Cehennem Deresi happened upon a narrow opening in the rock face. What
A Newly Identified Boar Piglet Engraving Emerges from Sefertepe’s 2025 Excavations
The 2025 excavation season at Sefertepe, a rapidly emerging Neolithic site within the broader Taş Tepeler landscape of southeastern Türkiye, has brought to light a striking example of early symbolic expression. During ongoing fieldwork directed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Güldoğan of Istanbul University’s Department of Prehistoric Archaeology, researchers identified a finely incised depiction of
At Sefertepe, Tiny Carvings and a 10,000-Year-Old Skull Room Reveal an Unexpected Symbolic World
The first days of the 2025 excavation season at Sefertepe were expected to bring steady progress, not paradigm-shifting discoveries. Yet on a gentle rise overlooking the plains of Viranşehir, two deceptively small finds—a micro-carved basalt bead and a compact limestone block with dual faces—have redirected scholarly attention toward this lesser-known corner of the Taş Tepeler
New Excavations at Perre Reveal Expanding Sacred Zones and Hidden Layers of Roman-Era Life
The 2025 archaeological season at Perre, one of the five principal cities of the ancient Kingdom of Commagene, has come to a close with significant new discoveries that deepen the understanding of the city’s religious and social landscape. The work, carried out across a newly uncovered 2,500-square-meter area in Adıyaman’s Örenli district, has revealed architectural
An amphitheater-like Neolithic structure has been uncovered at Karahantepe in southeastern Türkiye
Archaeologists in southeastern Türkiye have brought to light a striking Neolithic structure at Karahantepe—a circular, amphitheater-like building carved into bedrock and lined with tiered stone benches, human sculptures, and sculpted heads emerging from its walls. The find opens an unexpected window onto how some of the world’s earliest settled communities gathered, communicated, and expressed shared