1,500-Year-Old Mosaic Unearthed Beneath a Historic Mill in Midyat May Reveal Early Byzantine Administrator’s Residence
A 1,500-year-old mosaic floor discovered beneath a historic mill in southeastern Türkiye’s Midyat district may have once belonged to an early Byzantine official named Tittos Domestikos.The find marks the first mosaic ever uncovered along the Midyat–Nusaybin corridor, a region better known for its ancient fortresses and caravanserais. The discovery was made in Sivrice (Beyazsu area),
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
Echoes of the First City-State in Anatolia: Arslantepe’s 5,500-Year-Old Seal Exhibited for the First Time
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arslantepe Mound in eastern Türkiye is once again in the spotlight — this time for two extraordinary artifacts that bridge the dawn of civilization with the modern age. As part of the Culture Route Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the “102 Artifacts for the
Unique in the World: The Eros Mosaic from Yumurtalık Shows the God of Love Fishing on a Hippocampus
Discovered during rescue excavations in 2013 in the coastal town of Yumurtalık (ancient Aegeai) in southern Türkiye, the mosaic depicts the love god Eros fishing while riding a Hippocampus—a half-horse, half-fish sea creature. Scholars describe it as a one-of-a-kind example in the entire Mediterranean world. From rescue excavation to museum The mosaic was unearthed in
Arslantepe Mound: New Clues to the World’s First State System
The ancient site of Arslantepe in Malatya, Türkiye, continues to reshape our understanding of early civilization. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021, the mound has been excavated for over 65 years by Italian archaeologists and is recognized as the birthplace of one of the world’s earliest state systems. Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi
5,000-Year-Old Ceramics Unearthed in İzmir’s Smyrna Mound Reveal Early Trade Links
Archaeologists working at the Bayraklı settlement mound in İzmir — known as Old Smyrna Mound — have uncovered ceramic vessels dating back 5,000 years, shedding light on the region’s role as an emerging hub of Early Bronze Age trade. The excavations, carried out under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Heritage for the Future
Mongol Palace of Hulagu Khan Unearthed in Van: A Roof Tile Sparked the Discovery
A simple roof tile found in a field two decades ago has led to one of the most remarkable international archaeological discoveries in recent years. Excavations in Hanköy, a rural village in Türkiye’s Van province, have revealed the remains of a palace and settlement linked to Hulagu Khan, the founder of the Ilkhanate and grandson
Ancient Etruscan Tombs Go Digital: 280 Burial Chambers Now Accessible Online
A groundbreaking digital initiative has opened the doors of Italy’s Etruscan world to a global audience. Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and the Swedish Institute in Rome have created an online platform where nearly 280 Etruscan chamber tombs, dating back 2,500 years, can now be studied and explored virtually. From Excavations to Digital Archives
Egypt Museum Scandal: 3,000-Year-Old Gold Bracelet Stolen and Melted Down
A priceless 3,000-year-old gold bracelet has been stolen from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and melted down, Egyptian authorities confirmed. According to the Ministry of Interior, the artifact—dating to the Third Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt (1075–652 BCE)—was discovered missing on September 13 from a secure iron safe inside the museum’s restoration workshop. Investigations revealed
World’s Oldest Mummies May Be 12,000 Years Old, Discovered in Southeast Asia
A new study suggests smoke-dried mummification began 5,000 years earlier than previously thought. A groundbreaking study has uncovered evidence that the world’s oldest known mummies—dating back as far as 12,000 years—originated in southern China and Southeast Asia, challenging long-held beliefs that South America’s Chinchorro culture pioneered intentional mummification. Published this week in Proceedings of the