A Sealed Medieval Reliquary Cross Unearthed at Ancient Lystra in Central Anatolia
Archaeological excavations at Lystra Ancient City, located in central Anatolia, have brought to light a rare Christian artifact: a sealed bronze reliquary cross dating to between the 9th and 11th centuries. The object was discovered intact during excavations in the church area of the ancient settlement, offering valuable insight into medieval Christian belief and burial
The Most Important Oracle of the Aiolis Region: The 2,300-Year-Old Temple of Apollo Khresterios at Aigai
Hidden deep within a rural valley of western Türkiye, far from modern roads and urban pressure, the Temple of Apollo Khresterios stands as one of the most intact and enigmatic oracle centers of the ancient world. Located near the ancient city of Aigai, the sanctuary played a central role in the religious life of 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
Excavations at Alalakh Are Shaping a New Late Bronze Age Cuneiform Archive
At Alalakh, archaeologists have identified the remains of a new Late Bronze Age cuneiform tablet archive during the 2025 excavation season. The discovery offers a rare, context-rich view of how administration functioned in one of the Levant’s key ancient cities. The work forms part of the long-running Tell Atchana excavations in Hatay, Türkiye, carried out
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
A Long-Hidden Roman Thermal Complex Emerges at Myra After 15 Years of Delay
For more than a decade, a Roman-era structure lay trapped beneath modern industry at the edge of Myra Ancient City, its archaeological potential known but inaccessible. In 2025, that barrier finally disappeared. Excavations in Demre, southern Türkiye, have now brought to light an exceptional Roman thermal complex, revealing an architectural type previously undocumented in the
The Kilamuwa Stele from Zincirli Höyük Reveals How a Neo-Hittite King Wrote His Own Power into Stone
At Zincirli Höyük, located in today’s Gaziantep province in southern Türkiye, archaeologists uncovered one of the most explicit royal inscriptions of the Iron Age Near East. Known as the Kilamuwa Stele, this monument was erected in the 9th century BCE by King Kilamuwa, ruler of the Neo-Hittite kingdom of Bit-Gabbari. More than a historical record,
DNA from Çayönü Tepesi Reveals How Anatolia Shaped the World’s First Farming Societies
New genetic research conducted on human remains from Çayönü Tepesi is providing fresh evidence for Anatolia’s central position in the formation of early sedentary societies. The findings suggest that Neolithic communities in southeastern Anatolia were part of a wide interaction sphere linking the Near East, the Caucasus, and inner Anatolia. Scientific Analysis of Human Remains
1,800-Year-Old Head of Hermes Statue Unearthed at Laodikeia in Western Anatolia
Excavations at the ancient city of Laodikeia, located near modern-day Denizli in western Anatolia, have revealed a finely carved marble head belonging to a statue of Hermes, dating back approximately 1,800 years. The discovery was made in the eastern entrance corridor of the city’s Bouleuterion, or council house—an area closely associated with civic authority and