The ‘Dollar of the Middle Ages’ Found in Smolensk: 48 Silver Coins Reveal Trade Links from Lithuania to Crimea
Archaeologists in Smolensk have unearthed a 600-year-old treasure of 48 silver coins, including Prague groschen—known as the “Dollar of the Middle Ages”—a Lithuanian denarius from the reign of Vytautas the Great, and a rare Crimean dang. The find highlights Smolensk’s role as a crossroads of trade and political struggle in early 15th-century Eastern Europe. The
1,800-Year-Old Vase with Masked Actor Depiction Unearthed in Aigai Now on Display
A rare terracotta vase featuring a depiction of an ancient theatrical mask has been unearthed during excavations at the ancient city of Aigai in western Türkiye. Dated to around 1,800 years ago, the artifact is now on display at the Manisa Archaeological Museum and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in
Traces of the Lost Kingdom of Purušhanda: Three Ovens and Two Hearths Unearthed in Üçhöyük
Archaeologists working at Üçhöyük in Bolvadin, Afyonkarahisar (western Türkiye) have uncovered new evidence that may shed light on the long-sought lost kingdom of Purušhanda. This season’s excavations revealed three mudbrick-built ovens and two hearths, suggesting large-scale production activities dating back to the second millennium BC. Excavations at Üçhöyük began in 2020 and have continued under
5,000- and 11,000-Year-Old Burials Unearthed at Çayönü: Shedding Light on Neolithic and Bronze Age Anatolia
Archaeologists working at the Neolithic settlement mound of Çayönü, in Ergani district of Diyarbakır, Türkiye, have unearthed six ancient burials—five from the Early Bronze Age, about 5,000 years old, and one dating back 11,000 years to the Neolithic period. The discovery provides crucial evidence of how one of humanity’s earliest farming communities buried and remembered
Göbeklitepe Exhibition to Open in Berlin’s Museum Island with 96 Artifacts in 2026
Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that Göbeklitepe, one of the world’s most iconic Neolithic sites and a UNESCO World Heritage property, will be presented in a major international exhibition in Germany. Deputy Minister Gökhan Yazgı confirmed that “Myths in Stone: Göbeklitepe and the World of the Last Hunters” will open in February
Japanese Princess Akiko Launches Excavations at Ayanlar Höyük: Türkiye–Japan Partnership Expands the Taş Tepeler Project
A new chapter has opened in Şanlıurfa’s prehistoric landscape. As part of Türkiye’s landmark Taş Tepeler Project—one of the most ambitious archaeological initiatives in the country’s history—excavations have officially begun at Ayanlar Höyük. The opening ceremony was marked by the symbolic first strike of the shovel by Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri
Ayvalık: Forgotten Gateway Linking Anatolia and Europe in the Ice Age
A new archaeological study has placed the coastal town of Ayvalık, Türkiye, at the center of a story far older than its olive groves or islands suggest. Published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, the research reveals that early humans may have reached Europe not only through the Balkans or the Levant, but
2,200-Year-Old Pantry and Kitchen Unearthed in Ancient City of Timbriada, Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Timbriada in Isparta’s Aksu district have uncovered a pantry and kitchen complex dating back 2,200 years. The discovery, located near the city’s church, sheds light on food storage, agricultural practices, and religious life during Late Antiquity. The excavation of the Timbriada Ancient City, founded on the slopes of Asartepe
12,000-Year-Old Human Statue Unearthed at Göbekli Tepe
Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has announced the discovery of a human statue embedded in a wall at Göbekli Tepe, the world’s oldest known temple complex in southeastern Türkiye. The artifact, believed to have been placed as a votive offering, is expected to provide groundbreaking insights into Neolithic rituals and belief
The 2,700-Year-Old Siloam Inscription: Israel’s Repatriation Request from Türkiye
The Siloam Inscription, dating back nearly 2,700 years, is considered one of the earliest known examples of Hebrew writing. Discovered near Jerusalem in 1880—then under Ottoman rule—the inscription was transferred to the Imperial Museum (today’s Istanbul Archaeology Museums), where it has been preserved ever since. While Israel has repeatedly requested its return, Turkish law classifies