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Written by Oguz Büyükyıldırım
On the 7th anniversary of Göbeklitepe’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, emphasized the country’s ongoing efforts to preserve and study the site—often described as the “zero point of history.” Sharing his message via social media, Minister Ersoy stated: “Göbeklitepe, the oldest and most striking
The acquaintance of Anatolia with writing occurred through the Assyrians who established the trading colony of Kültepe/Kanish. The Assyrian traders, who set up a karum in Kültepe, located within the boundaries of present-day Kayseri province in Türkiye, not only engaged in trade but also facilitated the interaction of Anatolia with Mesopotamian culture. During the long-term
The 1,600-year-old sandal and comb unearthed during excavations at Theodosius Harbor (Portus Theodosiacus), the second largest port built on the shores of the Marmara Sea, captivate onlookers. Conducted concurrently with the construction of the Marmaray and metro projects aimed at addressing Istanbul’s transportation issues, the excavations resulted in the most comprehensive archaeological surface survey of
The site of the main entrance gate of the 1,900-year-old underground temple belonging to the Mithras religion has been determined during excavations at Zerzevan Fortress in the Çınar district of Diyarbakır. The Zerzevan Fortress, used as a border garrison during the Roman Empire, is believed to have its origins in a fortress known as Kinabu
In the Çet Plateau of Kürtek Mountain in the Gerger district of Adıyaman, a place that could have been used as a cult area by people since ancient times has been identified. Structures made by stacking various-sized stones, known as ‘oboo,’ ‘ovoo,’ or ‘oba,’ are considered as mounds or towers. Areas containing these structures, commonly
A citizen in the northern Turkish city of Samsun, while excavating foundations for a residential construction, uncovered traces of a settlement that are considered to belong to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Eastern Roman periods. İlkadım district, Tepecik neighborhood, a citizen initiated excavation work on their own titled land to build a house. During the foundation
The excavation uncovered one of the oldest Byzantine churches found in Diyarbakır. The church, estimated to be 1500 years old, contains 46 tombs. The team conducting surface surveys in Diyarbakır’s Kulp district found a coin dating back to the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I. Following this discovery, an excavation was initiated in the
A relief depicting Ajax, one of the heroes of the legendary Trojan War, one of the most significant battles of the ancient world, has been discovered. The relief of Ajax was unearthed on the island of Salamis in Greece. The Trojan War begins with the abduction of Helen, the wife of Menelaus, the king of
Tourists who visit Hagia Sophia, which was opened for worship under the name of ‘Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi’ on July 24, 2020, for purposes other than worship, will be charged a re-entry fee. Before being opened for worship at Hagia Sophia, it served as a museum for 86 years. Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet
The island of Dana was a strategic place where ships were built, which were used in many sea battles, including the sea wars between the Greeks and Persians, since the migration of sea tribes during the Bronze Age. Dana Island (Greek: Πιτυούσσα, Pityoússa) is an island located along the coastline in the Silifke district of
The ancient city of Derbe, which was a center of the bishopric in the early years of Christianity and mentioned in the Bible, cannot continue its excavation due to insufficient funding since the commencement of the excavation work in 2013. Surface surveys conducted at Derbe Mound, believed to be the ancient city of Derbe located
