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
Rare 1,800-Year-Old Domed Roman Tomb Unearthed in Southeastern Anatolia
An archaeological discovery in southeastern Anatolia has brought to light a rare and architecturally sophisticated funerary structure. In the rural landscape of Besni, a district of Adıyaman, museum experts have identified a domed tomb chamber dating to the 2nd century CE—approximately 1,800 years ago—marking one of the most notable funerary finds ever recorded in the
The Only Known City of the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Tabal Stands on Mount Göllü in Central Anatolia
Around 2,800 years ago, the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Tabal emerged as one of the successor states that reshaped central Anatolia following the collapse of the Hittite Empire. Today, the only archaeologically identified urban center attributed to this kingdom occupies an exceptional location: the summit of Mount Göllü, within the borders of Kömürcü village in Niğde
Symbols Beyond Decoration: New Research Decodes the Visual Language of Karaz Pottery
At first glance, Karaz pottery looks restrained—almost austere. Dark surfaces. Limited color. Repeating forms.But that first impression is deceptive. Look closer, and those vessels begin to speak. According to a new doctoral study, the motifs covering Karaz ceramics were not added merely to decorate everyday objects. They formed a visual language, developed and understood within
Not Italian, but Anatolian: The Marble of Otto the Great’s Sarcophagus Traced to Marmara Island
For centuries, the monumental tomb of Otto I, known as Otto the Great, has stood at the heart of Magdeburg Cathedral as one of Europe’s most powerful symbols of medieval authority. Now, new scientific analyses have revealed that a crucial element of this imperial monument is not European at all, but Anatolian in origin. Experts
Sculpted Faces from Ancient Lykos Meet Visitors in Denizli
Stone faces shaped nearly two thousand years ago are once again meeting the public—this time in modern-day Denizli. A new exhibition titled “Faces of Lykos” has opened its doors, bringing together some of the most striking sculptural finds uncovered in the ancient cities of western Anatolia. Hosted at the Nihat Zeybekci Congress and Culture Center,
Mysterious Spherical Stones Found Near the Iraq Border in Eastern Türkiye Remain Unexplained
Unusually shaped spherical stones uncovered during road construction works in eastern Türkiye remain scientifically unexplained three years after their discovery, prompting renewed calls for formal academic investigation. The stones were discovered in the Aktütün area of Şemdinli district in Hakkari Province, close to the Türkiye–Iraq border, during a road-widening project carried out approximately three years
Troy to Take Center Stage at Rome’s Colosseum in Major 2026 Exhibition
In 2026, one of Anatolia’s most enduring stories will unfold at the very heart of ancient Rome. A comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Troy, the UNESCO-listed archaeological site in northwestern Türkiye, will be hosted at the Colosseum Archaeological Park in Rome, one of the most visited heritage complexes in the world. The announcement was made by
How the Crusaders Were Defeated in Anatolia: New Evidence Reveals the Route and Fortress of the Battle of Merzifon
For centuries, the defeat of the Crusader armies in Anatolia in 1101 has been known largely through fragmented medieval chronicles. Now, new archaeological and historical research in northern Anatolia is transforming that narrative. Scholars working in the Amasya–Merzifon region say they have identified the precise route taken by the Crusaders—and the strategic fortress where their
The 9,000-Year-Old Figurines of Gürcütepe Illuminate Life After Göbeklitepe
The first light over the Harran Plain has a way of turning everything into pale gold. From a distance, Gürcütepe looks like nothing more than a gentle rise in the landscape—quiet, unassuming, easy to miss. Yet beneath its surface lies one of the most revealing chapters in the story of how early societies redefined themselves