Six Aramaic Inscriptions Unearthed at Zernaki Tepe Reveal Forgotten Parthian Frontier in Eastern Türkiye
Archaeologists have uncovered six new Aramaic inscriptions at Zernaki Tepe, a 3,000-year-old ancient city in Van Province, eastern Türkiye. The discoveries — including three deliberately erased texts — illuminate a turbulent Parthian-era presence in Anatolia and the shifting power struggles between empires that once vied for control of the region. Located in the Yukarı Işıklı
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
Transformation Through Time: A Roman Hospital Turned Byzantine Church in Kaunos
Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Kaunos, located in Türkiye’s southwestern Muğla province, have revealed a rare architectural transformation spanning over a millennium.Researchers uncovered a Byzantine church built directly atop a Roman-era hospital complex, shedding light on how this coastal Carian settlement evolved from a center of healing into a place of faith. UNESCO-listed
The Ancient City of Colossae Yields 2,200-Year-Old Rock-Cut Necropolis in Western Türkiye
Archaeologists have unearthed 60 bathtub-type rock-cut tombs dating back more than 2,200 years in the ancient city of Colossae (modern Honaz, Denizli) — a once-flourishing Phrygian, Roman, and Byzantine center long buried beneath the foothills of Mount Honaz in western Türkiye. The discovery marks the first systematic excavation ever carried out in Colossae, led by
2,800-Year-Old Sanctuary of the Phrygian Mother Goddess Matar Unearthed at Attouda Ancient City
Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Attouda in Denizli’s Sarayköy district have uncovered a sanctuary dedicated to the Phrygian Mother Goddess Matar (Kybele), dating back 2,600–2,800 years. The discovery includes a monumental rock sanctuary, a sacred cave, and a unique twin rock idol. The excavations are carried out under the supervision of Hulusi Ünsal,
1,800-Year-Old Roman Agora Unearthed in the Ancient City of Metropolis
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Metropolis in İzmir, Türkiye, have uncovered a 1,800-year-old Roman-era agora that once served as the commercial heart of the settlement. Experts suggest it may be the largest trade center ever identified in the city. Located between the modern villages of Yeniköy and Özbey in Torbalı, Metropolis is also known
160-Year-Old Church in Çeşme Turned Into Parking Lot: 300-Year-Old Statue Stolen
In the Altınyunus district of Çeşme, İzmir, a small 19th-century church has been left to decay after decades of neglect. Once home to a rare 300-year-old architectural statue of Jesus, the site has been looted, vandalized, and even turned into an informal parking lot. Forgotten Heritage on the Aegean Coast Estimated to have been built
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
Pergamon’s Red Basilica Set to Reopen in 2026 After Extensive Restoration
At the core of ancient Pergamon in western Türkiye rises the Red Basilica, a colossal Roman sanctuary that has witnessed nearly two millennia of transformation—from a temple dedicated to Egyptian gods under Emperor Hadrian, to one of the earliest Christian basilicas, later adapted as a mosque. Now part of Pergamon’s UNESCO World Heritage landscape, this
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