Digital Pathways to the Hittite World: AI and Archaeology Unite to Decode an Ancient Empire
A new research initiative from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is reshaping how scholars study the Hittite Empire—one of the most formidable powers of Bronze Age Anatolia. The project, titled “Digital Pathways to the Hittite World,” merges archaeology, philology, and artificial intelligence to transform the long-standing Hethitologie-Portal Mainz (HPM) into a next-generation research platform. Rebuilding an Empire—Data
In the 1700th Anniversary of Christianity’s Recognition as an Official Religion, the Basilica Beneath Lake İznik (Nicaea) Opens to Visitors
On the 1700th anniversary of Christianity’s recognition as an official religion, an early Christian basilica submerged beneath Lake İznik (ancient Nicaea, northwestern Türkiye) has officially opened to visitors.Discovered in 2014 through aerial photography and later named one of the Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of the Year by the Archaeological Institute of America, the site now
Letter of Roman Emperor Caracalla Discovered in the Walls of a 1950s House in Türkiye
A forgotten imperial inscription surfaces in a rural home near the ancient city of Takina In southwestern Türkiye, archaeologists have identified stones from a 1950s house that once formed part of a monumental Roman inscription — an imperial letter written on behalf of Emperor Caracalla (r. AD 198–217). The stones, taken decades ago from the
13,000-Year-Old Bone Tools and Beads Unearthed in Direkli Cave Reveal Early Anatolian Craftsmanship
Archaeologists working at Direkli Cave in Kahramanmaraş, southeastern Türkiye, have uncovered bone tools and ornamental beads dating back approximately 13,000 years — offering a vivid glimpse into the technological and symbolic sophistication of the region’s prehistoric inhabitants. A Window into Late Epipalaeolithic Anatolia The discoveries, made under the direction of Prof. Dr. Cevdet Merih Erek
Karahantepe Offers Clues That Göbeklitepe Was More Than a Ritual Site
New excavations at Karahantepe, one of the key sites of the Taş Tepeler Project in southeastern Türkiye, are reshaping how archaeologists interpret the world’s earliest monumental centers.According to excavation director Prof. Dr. Necmi Karul, the newly uncovered structures suggest that these places were not only used for rituals but also formed part of organized Neolithic
Bronze Bust of Egyptian Goddess Isis Discovered at Satala, a Roman Military Fortress in Northern Türkiye
A 20-centimeter bronze bust of Isis found in the Roman city of Satala reveals the presence of Egyptian religious traditions among legionaries stationed in the Anatolian highlands. Archaeologists working at Satala, a major Roman military center in Kelkit, Gümüşhane Province, have unearthed a finely crafted bronze bust of the Egyptian goddess Isis. The rare discovery
Third Roman Hippodrome in Anatolia Unearthed Beneath the City of Kayseri
Archaeological research conducted in central Türkiye has uncovered the remains of a Roman-era hippodrome beneath the modern city of Kayseri — marking the third known example of such a monumental structure in Anatolia. The discovery offers rare insight into the architectural and social fabric of ancient Caesarea, the capital of the Kingdom of Cappadocia and
1,500-Year-Old Roman Mosaic Unearthed in Mardin During “Anatolian Heritage” Operation
Authorities uncover hidden Late Roman mosaic buried beneath concrete slab in southeastern Türkiye A spectacular 1,500-year-old floor mosaic depicting human and animal figures has been discovered in the Derik district of Mardin, southeastern Türkiye, during a smuggling operation code-named “Anatolian Heritage” (Anadolu Mirası). The mosaic—spanning approximately 60 square meters and dating to the Late Roman
1,500-Year-Old Greek Mosaic Unearthed at Urfa Castle Reveals Names of Early Byzantine Clergy
Archaeologists working at the ancient Urfa Castle in southeastern Türkiye have uncovered a 5th-century Greek-inscribed floor mosaic decorated with intricate plant, animal, and geometric motifs. The discovery, believed to belong to a small church, chapel, or martyr shrine, provides new insights into the religious and social hierarchy of the early Byzantine city of Edessa —
12,000-Year-Old Underwater Rock Paintings Discovered Beneath Atatürk Dam in Southeastern Türkiye
Underwater engravings reveal traces of prehistoric life in Southeastern Türkiye Archaeologists in Türkiye have documented rock engravings dating back more than 12,000 years beneath the waters of the Atatürk Dam in Adıyaman Province — a discovery shedding new light on the prehistoric communities that once lived along the Euphrates basin. The engravings, believed to belong