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
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
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 —
3,300-Year-Old Hittite Tablets and Official Seals Unearthed at Oylum Höyük Reveal a Lost Administrative Center
Archaeologists working at Oylum Höyük in Kilis, near the Turkish–Syrian border, have uncovered four cuneiform tablets — two written in Hittite and two in Akkadian — along with five clay seal impressions belonging to local administrators of the Hittite Empire. The finds, dating to the 13th–14th centuries B.C., shed new light on how the empire
2,000-Year-Old Tombs in Hierapolis Restored to Their Original Form
Archaeologists have completed a 100% authentic restoration in the Northern Necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis, revealing the grandeur of Anatolia’s most impressive “city of the dead.” Archaeologists in Türkiye have completed the full restoration of 2,000-year-old tombs in the Northern Necropolis of Hierapolis—one of the largest and best-preserved ancient burial grounds in the
5,000-Year-Old Ceramics Unearthed in İzmir’s Smyrna Mound Reveal Early Trade Links
Archaeologists working at the Bayraklı settlement mound in İzmir — known as Old Smyrna Mound — have uncovered ceramic vessels dating back 5,000 years, shedding light on the region’s role as an emerging hub of Early Bronze Age trade. The excavations, carried out under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Heritage for the Future
Shocking Finds in the Lydian Kitchen: New Hearths, Fish Bones, and Evidence of Dog Consumption at Daskyleion
On the shores of Lake Manyas in northwestern Türkiye, the ancient city of Daskyleion has revealed fresh insights into the daily life of its inhabitants. Archaeologists excavating the so-called “Lydian kitchen” uncovered two additional hearths, alongside seeds, fish bones, and animal remains. Among the discoveries were dog bones bearing cut marks, strengthening the argument that
Gifted Burials Unearthed at İkiztepe Mound: An Avenger and a 6-Year-Old Child
Two remarkable “gifted burials” have been uncovered during this year’s excavations at the İkiztepe Mound in Bafra, Samsun. The discoveries shed new light on the burial traditions and social structures of Early Bronze Age communities in northern Anatolia. An Avenger Buried with Harpoons and a Child with Bracelets According to excavation director Assoc. Prof. Aslıhan
Archaeologists Discover Hittite Bird Divination Tablets and Royal Seals in the Ancient City of Samuha
Archaeologists working at the Hittite settlement of Kayalıpınar, known in antiquity as Samuha, have uncovered an extraordinary state archive containing 56 cuneiform tablets on bird divination and 22 seal impressions belonging to kings, princes, princesses, priests, and high-ranking officials of the Hittite Empire. The excavation was led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Maner of Koç