From Central Asia to the Balkans: Ram and Sheep-Shaped Tombstones Go on Display in Diyarbakır for the First Time
The Diyarbakır Museum has unveiled ram and sheep-shaped tombstones that had remained in storage for 91 years. These sculpted stones, carved from basalt and limestone, were not only markers of the dead but also symbols of identity, gender, and social status in medieval Anatolia. Founded in 1934, the Diyarbakır Museum is one of Türkiye’s oldest
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
The World’s Oldest Known House Model, Dating Back 12,000 Years, Is on Display in Türkiye
A 12,000-year-old architectural model—believed to be the oldest house model ever discovered—has been unearthed at Çayönü Hill in Diyarbakır, Türkiye, and is now on public display at the Diyarbakır Museum. The Çayönü archaeological site, located in the Ergani district of southeastern Türkiye, continues to offer groundbreaking insights into the origins of settled life. Among the
This mirror, believed to have come from the Iranian palace, offers advice
A remarkable 19th-century mirror, believed to have come from the Qajar Dynasty palace in Iran, draws attention for its thought-provoking inscriptions. This unique piece, known as the “Advisory Mirror,” is currently on display at the Diyarbakır Museum. The mirror features several profound sayings, including: “Ettukâ reîsü’l-ahlâkı (Takvâ is the essence of morality),” “Ezellü’n-nâsi men ehâne’n-nâse
A secret ritual area was discovered in the temple of Mithras in Zerzevan Castle
A secret ritual was discovered in the Temple of Mithras in Zerzevan Castle, which was used as a “military settlement” during the Roman Empire. Zerzevan Castle, where the Temple of Mithras is located, is located in Diyarbakır province in southeastern Türkiye. The temple in the castle is known as the last Mithras temple in the
The number of graves in the children’s cemetery unearthed during archaeological excavations in Diyarbakır has increased to 60
Last year, 54 graves of children between the ages of 0-6 were unearthed during archaeological excavations in an area thought to be an old quarry in Diyarbakır’s Kulp district. In this year’s excavations, archaeologists uncovered 6 more graves, bringing the total to 60 graves. Following the discovery of coins from the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I
Graveyard of 54 children found in an old quarry
In the Kulp district of Diyarbakır in southeastern Türkiye, a graveyard of 54 children between the ages of 0-6 buried in what is believed to be an old quarry has been unearthed. Archaeologists find it surprising that only children are buried in the area where 54 graves have been found so far. The remains of
One of the oldest known Byzantine churches was found in Diyarbakır
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