2,000-Year-Old Bone Stylus Unearthed in Türkmen-Karahöyük, Believed to Be the Second Hittite Capital Tarhuntašša
A 2,000-year-old bone stylus was unearthed in Türkmen-Karahöyük, Konya. The site, linked to the lost Hittite capital Tarhuntašša, also yielded a gaming die, bathtub, ancient grains, and even monkey remains gifted from Egypt. Before the Battle of Kadesh, Hittite King Muwatalli II made a radical decision to move the empire’s capital from Hattusa to Tarhuntašša.
Four Roman-Era Tombs Unearthed at Sillyon Ancient City in Antalya: Three Individuals, Three Periods
Excavations at Sillyon Ancient City in Serik, Antalya have revealed four tombs dating back to the Roman period. Established on a high hill for security reasons in the early 2nd millennium BCE, Sillyon hosts structures from the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman eras. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Taşkıran, head of the Sillyon Excavation and faculty
1,600-Year-Old Saint George Church in Diyarbakır Reopens as Art Gallery After Earthquake Restoration
In Diyarbakır’s historic İçkale district, the 1,600-year-old Saint George Church has risen again after suffering severe damage in the devastating earthquakes of February 6, 2023. Originally built in the 4th century CE by the Romans as an administrative church, the structure will reopen on August 10 as an art gallery. The restoration, led by the
Evidence of 6,000-Year-Old Sacrificial Rituals Unearthed at Tadım Fortress Excavations in Elazığ
Archaeological excavations at Tadım Fortress and Mound in Elazığ, eastern Türkiye, have revealed striking evidence of religious practices dating back nearly 6,000 years. Conducted under the direction of the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, the investigations are shedding new light on both daily life and ritual traditions of the region’s prehistoric communities. This season, archaeologists
Excavations at Amos Ancient City Reveal Mosaics and Residential Structures
Archaeological work continues at full speed in Amos Ancient City, located in Turkey’s Muğla province, overlooking the coast of Marmaris. The 2025 excavation season is being carried out under the “Heritage for the Future” program of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, coordinated by the Marmaris Chamber of Commerce, with support from Marmaris Municipality as
Remains of 2,800-Year-Old Lydian Palace Unearthed at Sardis Ancient City
Excavations at Sardis Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in western Turkey, have revealed the remains of a Lydian palace dating back to the 8th century BCE. Sardis, located in Manisa’s Salihli district, served as the capital of the Lydian Kingdom. The ongoing archaeological work is led by Prof. Dr. Nicholas Cahill from the
5300 Years of Life Traces: Settlement History from the Late Chalcolithic to the Bronze Age Revealed at Çaltılar Mound
Archaeological excavations at Çaltılar Mound (Çaltılar Höyük) in Türkiye’s Muğla province reveal a settlement history beginning on the edge of a marsh 5,300 years ago, later expanding into a fortified center through the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages. The only mound excavation currently active in Muğla, Çaltılar Mound, is offering new insights into the region’s prehistoric
1,100-Year-Old Glass Perfume Bottles Unearthed off the Coast of Kaş
Underwater excavations off the coast of Kaş, in Türkiye’s Antalya province, have revealed 1,000–1,100-year-old glass perfume bottles from the wreck of an Eastern Mediterranean merchant ship. The find is considered one of the earliest pieces of evidence for the import of fragrances from the East to Europe during the Middle Ages. Assoc. Prof. Hakan Öniz,
Water Flows Again After 1,900 Years in the Roman Bath of the “City of Gladiators” Stratonikeia
In a scene that revived the grandeur of antiquity, water has flowed once more into the Roman bath of Stratonikeia — known as the “City of Gladiators” — after 1,900 years. Following meticulous excavation and restoration works, the pool was refilled using its original water channel, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the engineering of
From the Neolithic Age to the Present: The Discovery of the “Vessel Within a Vessel” at Karahantepe is Revolutionizing Historical Narratives
An extraordinary collection of 485 pieces from the Karahantepe region of Şanlıurfa was featured at the International Archaeology Symposium and “The Golden Age of Archaeology” exhibition held at the Presidential National Library in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye. Among these, a unique stone vessel containing a smaller vessel stands out as the oldest and most