A Seljuk Caravanserai Reveals Rare Mongol and Turkic Tamgas: New Inscriptions Emerge at Çardak
A 13th-century waystation in western Türkiye is drawing fresh attention after the discovery of two highly unusual symbols — the Mongol Ulzii motif and a Turkic tamga associated with Bilge Tonyukuk. When the Seljuk caravan routes crossed the vast interior of Anatolia, they created more than commercial arteries; they forged a landscape of cultural exchange.
A Newly Identified Boar Piglet Engraving Emerges from Sefertepe’s 2025 Excavations
The 2025 excavation season at Sefertepe, a rapidly emerging Neolithic site within the broader Taş Tepeler landscape of southeastern Türkiye, has brought to light a striking example of early symbolic expression. During ongoing fieldwork directed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Güldoğan of Istanbul University’s Department of Prehistoric Archaeology, researchers identified a finely incised depiction of
Newly Exposed Mosaic Structure in Lake Sapanca May Belong to a Late Antique Chapel, Researchers Say
As water levels recede in Lake Sapanca, a mosaic-floored building resurfaces, prompting renewed archaeological interest. The falling water level of Lake Sapanca in northwestern Türkiye has revealed a mosaic-paved structure that had remained submerged for centuries. As stone foundations and sections of patterned flooring emerged from the lakebed, specialists began reassessing the site’s function and
Letoon Sanctuary Embarks on a New Excavation Phase at One of Lycia’s Most Important Sacred Landscapes
The UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary of Letoon in Muğla’s Seydikemer district is entering a renewed phase of archaeological work, shedding light on one of ancient Lycia’s most influential religious centers. Located near Kumluova and paired with the neighboring city of Xanthos on UNESCO’s list since 1988, Letoon is renowned for its temples dedicated to Leto,
A Shepherd’s Chance Discovery Reveals a Roman Funerary Stele in the Hills of Muğla
High in the rugged hills of Seydikemer in southwestern Türkiye, a local shepherd made a discovery that is now reshaping the archaeological map of the region: a Roman-era funerary stele carved with human figures and detailed epigraphic inscriptions. The monument, resembling the form of a votive altar, has been safely recovered and transported to the
At Sefertepe, Tiny Carvings and a 10,000-Year-Old Skull Room Reveal an Unexpected Symbolic World
The first days of the 2025 excavation season at Sefertepe were expected to bring steady progress, not paradigm-shifting discoveries. Yet on a gentle rise overlooking the plains of Viranşehir, two deceptively small finds—a micro-carved basalt bead and a compact limestone block with dual faces—have redirected scholarly attention toward this lesser-known corner of the Taş Tepeler
8,500-Year-Old Obsidian Mirrors Unearthed at Canhasan, Home to Anatolia’s Oldest Known Street
The Neolithic settlement of Canhasan in Karaman—long recognized for preserving Anatolia’s oldest known street—has yielded an extraordinary new discovery. During this year’s excavations, archaeologists uncovered a set of finely crafted obsidian mirrors dating back 8,500 years, along with decorated obsidian tools that reveal a distinct symbolic tradition within Central Anatolia’s early farming communities. A Settlement
A New Study Illuminates How Neolithic Lifeways Spread from Anatolia to the Aegean and Europe
A sweeping new analysis published in Science is reshaping our understanding of how early farming traditions radiated outward from Anatolia. The study sheds light on long-debated questions about how Neolithic lifeways moved from Anatolia to the Aegean and eventually Europe, revealing a far more intricate story than the linear models once proposed. Western Anatolia as
New Excavations at Perre Reveal Expanding Sacred Zones and Hidden Layers of Roman-Era Life
The 2025 archaeological season at Perre, one of the five principal cities of the ancient Kingdom of Commagene, has come to a close with significant new discoveries that deepen the understanding of the city’s religious and social landscape. The work, carried out across a newly uncovered 2,500-square-meter area in Adıyaman’s Örenli district, has revealed architectural
An amphitheater-like Neolithic structure has been uncovered at Karahantepe in southeastern Türkiye
Archaeologists in southeastern Türkiye have brought to light a striking Neolithic structure at Karahantepe—a circular, amphitheater-like building carved into bedrock and lined with tiered stone benches, human sculptures, and sculpted heads emerging from its walls. The find opens an unexpected window onto how some of the world’s earliest settled communities gathered, communicated, and expressed shared