Pergamon Find Confirms Feces-Based Medicine Was Practiced in Roman Anatolia
Ancient medical texts often describe remedies that sound implausible—or even shocking—to modern readers. Among the most controversial are treatments based on human waste. Until now, such remedies were known only from written sources. A small Roman glass vessel recovered from Pergamon has changed that picture, offering the first direct chemical evidence that these therapies were
A 4,000-Year-Old Silver Goblet Links Anatolia to the Earliest Visions of Cosmic Order
A small silver cup, unearthed decades ago in the Judean Hills, has returned to the center of scholarly debate—this time with Anatolia firmly in the discussion. Known as the ʿAin Samiya Goblet, the vessel dates to the Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 2650–1950 BCE) and bears one of the most elaborate mythological compositions known from the
Çatalhöyük Study Wins Major Award in Poland: Turkish Scientists Help Redefine Neolithic Social Structure
A groundbreaking study on the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük has received international recognition in Poland, after being selected as the most important foreign archaeological discovery of 2025 by Polish archaeologists. The award highlights research that challenges long-standing assumptions about social organization in early farming communities—placing women at the center of Neolithic life. The distinction was
A 5,000-Year-Old Skull Reveals One of the Earliest Medical Interventions in Anatolia
One of the most striking testimonies to early medical knowledge in Anatolia is now on display at the Samsun Museum. Dating back nearly 5,000 years, a human skull bearing clear evidence of surgical intervention is considered among the earliest known examples of cranial surgery in human history. What makes this discovery exceptional is not only
Anatolia’s First Monetary Memory: Lydian Silver Coins and the Birth of Coinage
Anatolia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coinage, where standardized money first emerged as a state-backed medium of exchange. The earliest and most compelling evidence of this transformation comes from silver coins struck during the Lydian period, marking a decisive shift from barter to measurable economic value. Together, these coins form Anatolia’s first monetary
When a Village Courtyard Hid a King: The Neo-Hittite Reliefs of Sakçagözü
In southeastern Anatolia, near the modern village of Sakçagözü, an extraordinary chapter of Neo-Hittite art once lay in plain sight—embedded not in a museum wall, but in an ordinary village courtyard. What appeared to be a utilitarian stone block was, in fact, a monumental royal relief dating to the 8th century BC, carved for a
Over 100 Olive Oil Workshops Reveal Syedra’s Role as a Late Antique Production Hub
In the steep coastal hills of southern Türkiye, the ancient city of Syedra Ancient City is revealing a side of urban life rarely seen so clearly in Late Antiquity. Archaeological excavations have identified more than 100 olive oil workshops dating to the 5th–6th centuries AD, indicating that Syedra was not merely a residential settlement but
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
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
Myra’s Monumental Roman Theatre Set for Restoration as Archaeologists Call the City “Anatolia’s Pompeii”
Archaeological excavations and conservation projects at Myra Ancient City and its ancient harbor, Andriake, on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast have entered a decisive new phase. Officials have confirmed that restoration of Myra’s monumental Roman theatre is scheduled to begin in 2026, while a selection of exceptionally rare artifacts uncovered during recent excavations is now being displayed