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
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
7,500-Year-Old Stone Seal Unearthed at Tadım Höyük in Eastern Anatolia
Archaeologists excavating Tadım Höyük, a multi-layered settlement mound in eastern Anatolia, have uncovered a rare stone seal dating back approximately 7,500 years, offering new insight into early social organization along the Upper Euphrates Basin. The discovery reinforces the region’s role as one of Anatolia’s earliest and most enduring centers of human settlement. The excavations are
Villagers Used Stones from a Zeus Temple to Build Their Homes
In northern Anatolia, the remains of an ancient Roman sanctuary have resurfaced in a way few would expect. In the Daday district of Kastamonu, villagers once took stones from a temple dedicated to Zeus and reused them in the construction of their homes, embedding fragments of a sacred monument into everyday domestic architecture. The site
At Nysa, the Road to Knowledge Emerges Again: 1,800-Year-Old Steps to a Roman Library Revealed
In the early hours of the excavation season, as the soil was carefully lifted from a Roman street in western Anatolia, a forgotten route resurfaced — one that once led directly to knowledge itself. At Nysa Ancient City, archaeologists have uncovered a set of marble steps dating back roughly 1,800 years, revealing how ancient visitors
A 3,000-Year-Old Rock-Cut Toilet in the Phrygian Valley Is Attracting Visitors’ Attention
In the heart of western Anatolia, the Phrygian Valley continues to surprise visitors not only with its monumental rock façades and ancient sanctuaries, but also with striking details from everyday life. One of the most talked-about features in recent years is a 3,000-year-old rock-cut toilet, carved into a multi-story structure in the Ayazini area of
Late Roman Palace Hall with Rare Mosaics Discovered at Hadrianopolis in Northern Anatolia
The moment archaeologists lifted the soil, the floor answered first—a near-intact mosaic field, still crisp enough to read like a visual statement of power. At Hadrianopolis, the ancient city in Karabük’s Eskipazar district in northern Anatolia, excavators have uncovered a mosaic-paved reception hall interpreted as part of a palace-like complex. The Find: A Formal Reception
Letoon Sanctuary Embarks on a New Excavation Phase at One of Lycia’s Most Important Sacred Landscapes
The UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary of Letoon in Muğla’s Seydikemer district is entering a renewed phase of archaeological work, shedding light on one of ancient Lycia’s most influential religious centers. Located near Kumluova and paired with the neighboring city of Xanthos on UNESCO’s list since 1988, Letoon is renowned for its temples dedicated to Leto,
3,000-Year-Old Honey-Barley Bread Recreated in Ancient Hasankeyf
Researchers in Türkiye’s historic district of Hasankeyf have successfully recreated a 3,000-year-old honey-barley bread, using instructions preserved in cuneiform tablets from ancient Mesopotamia. The experimental culinary project, conducted by faculty members at Batman University’s Hasankeyf Vocational School, brings one of the world’s earliest documented bread recipes back to life. The academic team—İlker Aksoy, Hüseyin Gül,
Ancient Hytos Harbor Emerges as Sea Recedes in the Gulf of Erdek
A rare coastal retreat has revealed the submerged structures of one of Kyzikos’ key ancient ports, offering a brief look into the maritime power of the Propontis. An unusual drop in sea level along the Düzler coastline in Erdek, western Türkiye, has exposed the long-hidden remains of the Hytos Ancient Harbor—a crucial maritime hub of