Forgotten Neolithic Settlement in Bilecik: 9,000 Years of History Hidden Beneath the Grass
In western Türkiye, an archaeological discovery once hailed as a milestone in Neolithic research now lies buried under weeds. The 9,000-year-old settlement unearthed in Bilecik’s Bahçelievler district — among the earliest known farming communities of western Anatolia — has been left unprotected, sparking calls from historians and locals to transform it into an open-air museum
1,800-Year-Old Cybele Statue Rescued from Looters Now Displayed at Diyarbakır’s İçkale Museum
A 1,800-year-old limestone statue believed to represent the Mother Goddess Cybele — once nearly cut apart by looters — has been meticulously restored and placed on public display in the garden of Diyarbakır’s İçkale Museum. Originally brought from Şanlıurfa in 1935, the piece was saved from smugglers by the gendarmerie and now features in the
3,000-Year-Old Urartian Wall Paintings Protected Beneath Van’s Garibin Hill
Deep beneath the rugged terrain of eastern Türkiye, archaeologists have uncovered one of the most extraordinary artistic survivals of the Urartian Kingdom — a network of subterranean chambers whose walls still bear vivid, 3,000-year-old paintings. The fragile murals, discovered accidentally during an illegal excavation in Van’s Tuşba district, are now being carefully preserved under a
2,000-Year-Old Tombs in Hierapolis Restored to Their Original Form
Archaeologists have completed a 100% authentic restoration in the Northern Necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis, revealing the grandeur of Anatolia’s most impressive “city of the dead.” Archaeologists in Türkiye have completed the full restoration of 2,000-year-old tombs in the Northern Necropolis of Hierapolis—one of the largest and best-preserved ancient burial grounds in the
Unique Architectural Detail Unveiled: The “Fingerprint Dome” of Saint George Church Reopens in Diyarbakır
The 1,800-year-old Saint George Church in Diyarbakır has reopened after a meticulous restoration, revealing a striking architectural feature: a brick dome resembling a human fingerprint. Believed to carry the personal mark of its ancient architect, the structure is drawing thousands of visitors and renewed global attention. Located within the historic İçkale Museum Complex, the Saint
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
160-Year-Old Church in Çeşme Turned Into Parking Lot: 300-Year-Old Statue Stolen
In the Altınyunus district of Çeşme, İzmir, a small 19th-century church has been left to decay after decades of neglect. Once home to a rare 300-year-old architectural statue of Jesus, the site has been looted, vandalized, and even turned into an informal parking lot. Forgotten Heritage on the Aegean Coast Estimated to have been built
Preserving the Past: Conservation Underway on 1,500-Year-Old Mosaic in Türkiye’s Ancient City of Perre
In the heart of southeastern Türkiye, a remarkable 1,500-year-old floor mosaic is being preserved as part of ongoing conservation efforts in the ancient city of Perre. Located in Adıyaman province, the ancient city of Perre—one of the five major cities of the Kingdom of Commagene—is home to a stunning 125-square-meter mosaic dating back to the
Two Young Brothers Donate a Rare Byzantine Signet Ring to the Troy Museum
In a heartwarming act of cultural awareness, two young brothers from Ayvacık, a district in the Turkish province of Çanakkale, donated a rare signet ring believed to date back to the Byzantine Empire to the Troy Museum. Aden Dayangaç, 10, and his older brother Doran Dayangaç, 14, found the artifact near their home in Demirci
Restoration Efforts Revitalize Ancient Majesty at Persepolis
Restoration work has resumed at key heritage sites within Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Iran, following a pause during the Nowruz holidays. Projects are underway at the Apadana Palace, the rock-carved tomb of Artaxerxes III, and the southern inscription of the Terrace (Takhtgah), all remnants of the ancient Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330