“Lonidos” Inscribed Seat Discovered in 5,000-Year-Old Ancient Theatre
In Bursa, Türkiye, the Helenistic Apollonia ad Rhyndacum Ancient Theatre has revealed a seat inscribed with “Lonidos,” dating back to the Roman period. According to excavation director Prof. Dr. Derya Şahin, restoring the seating to its original positions is helping the 5,000-year-old theatre regain its long-lost form. Excavations at the Apollonia ad Rhyndacum Ancient Theatre
Forgotten Neolithic Settlement in Bilecik: 9,000 Years of History Hidden Beneath the Grass
In western Türkiye, an archaeological discovery once hailed as a milestone in Neolithic research now lies buried under weeds. The 9,000-year-old settlement unearthed in Bilecik’s Bahçelievler district — among the earliest known farming communities of western Anatolia — has been left unprotected, sparking calls from historians and locals to transform it into an open-air museum
5,000-Year-Old Carbonized Barley Found in Early Bronze Age Settlement in Van’s Gürpınar District
Archaeologists in eastern Türkiye have unearthed a remarkable find at the İremir Mound (İremir Höyüğü) in Van’s Gürpınar district — carbonized barley grains dating back around 5,000 years, offering a rare glimpse into the Early Bronze Age agricultural practices of Eastern Anatolia. Excavations at the site, conducted under the supervision of Van Museum and the
8,000-Year-Old Ceramic Workshop Unearthed in İzmir’s Ulucak Höyük Reveals Early Specialized Production
In the heart of modern industrial İzmir, surrounded by nearly 500 factories, archaeologists have brought to light a remarkable echo of humanity’s first producers. At Ulucak Höyük — the oldest known settlement in the region, dating back 8,850 years — a specialized ceramic production complex from 8,000 years ago has been unearthed. Led by Prof.
1,800-Year-Old Cybele Statue Rescued from Looters Now Displayed at Diyarbakır’s İçkale Museum
A 1,800-year-old limestone statue believed to represent the Mother Goddess Cybele — once nearly cut apart by looters — has been meticulously restored and placed on public display in the garden of Diyarbakır’s İçkale Museum. Originally brought from Şanlıurfa in 1935, the piece was saved from smugglers by the gendarmerie and now features in the
It was thought to be an ordinary water source: the Roman Pool of Bahçeli turns out to be a healing sanctuary
Eighty years after the last excavation, the Roman Pool in Bahçeli, a town near Bor in Niğde Province, has revealed an entirely new identity. Once believed to be a mere component of Tyana’s water supply system, the monumental pool has now been identified as part of a Roman healing sanctuary dedicated to the god Asklepios
Roman City of Pompeiopolis Reconstructed with AI: Ancient Glory Revived in Northern Türkiye
In a pioneering cultural initiative, the ancient Roman city of Pompeiopolis in northern Türkiye’s Kastamonu province has been digitally reconstructed using artificial intelligence, offering a vivid glimpse into the grandeur of the city as it stood nearly 2,000 years ago. Located in the Taşköprü district, Pompeiopolis was once the capital of the Roman province of
3,000-Year-Old Urartian Wall Paintings Protected Beneath Van’s Garibin Hill
Deep beneath the rugged terrain of eastern Türkiye, archaeologists have uncovered one of the most extraordinary artistic survivals of the Urartian Kingdom — a network of subterranean chambers whose walls still bear vivid, 3,000-year-old paintings. The fragile murals, discovered accidentally during an illegal excavation in Van’s Tuşba district, are now being carefully preserved under a
Traces of Ancient Trade Emerge in the Excavations at Xanthos, the Lycian Capital
Archaeologists excavating the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Xanthos, once the administrative heart of the Lycian Civilization in Antalya’s Kaş district, have uncovered evidence shedding new light on commercial life in antiquity. The findings reveal that the settlement’s trading activities stretched much deeper into history than previously assumed. Overlooking the fertile plains shaped by the Eşen
Before the Hittites: 8,000-Year-Old Rock Art Discovered in Central Anatolia
Archaeologists have discovered prehistoric rock engravings estimated to be around 8,000 years old in the Develi district of Kayseri, a region located in the heart of Central Anatolia. The discovery, now awaiting official registration, offers rare insight into one of the earliest symbolic traditions known in the region—long before the rise of the Hittite civilization.