A 1,000-Year-Old Fortress Overlooking the Melendiz Plain Still Stands in Central Anatolia
Rising from a sheer rock formation above the Melendiz Plain, the medieval Murtaza Castle continues to dominate the landscape of central Anatolia nearly a millennium after its construction. Located near the village of Murtaza in the Çiftlik district of Niğde, the fortress offers rare insight into how geography, military strategy, and natural topography shaped defensive
A Unique Artuqid-Era Ivory Archer’s Ring Discovered at Hasankeyf’s Great Palace
Archaeological excavations at Hasankeyf during the 2025 field season have yielded an exceptional discovery that sheds new light on elite culture in medieval Anatolia. In the southeastern corner of the Great Palace complex, researchers uncovered a rare ivory archer’s ring (zihgir) dating to the Artuqid period (12th–13th century)—a find described as unique both in material
How the Crusaders Were Defeated in Anatolia: New Evidence Reveals the Route and Fortress of the Battle of Merzifon
For centuries, the defeat of the Crusader armies in Anatolia in 1101 has been known largely through fragmented medieval chronicles. Now, new archaeological and historical research in northern Anatolia is transforming that narrative. Scholars working in the Amasya–Merzifon region say they have identified the precise route taken by the Crusaders—and the strategic fortress where their
A Seljuk Caravanserai Reveals Rare Mongol and Turkic Tamgas: New Inscriptions Emerge at Çardak
A 13th-century waystation in western Türkiye is drawing fresh attention after the discovery of two highly unusual symbols — the Mongol Ulzii motif and a Turkic tamga associated with Bilge Tonyukuk. When the Seljuk caravan routes crossed the vast interior of Anatolia, they created more than commercial arteries; they forged a landscape of cultural exchange.
Archaeologists Identify the Burial Chamber of Georgian King Ashot the Great at Gevhernik Castle
Archaeologists working at Gevhernik Castle in Ardanuç, northeastern Türkiye, have identified a vaulted burial chamber beneath the apse of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, believed to be the long-lost tomb of Georgian King Ashot I (Ashot the Great, Kuropalates) — a pivotal ruler in the formation of medieval Georgia.The discovery provides the first
Mongol Palace of Hulagu Khan Unearthed in Van: A Roof Tile Sparked the Discovery
A simple roof tile found in a field two decades ago has led to one of the most remarkable international archaeological discoveries in recent years. Excavations in Hanköy, a rural village in Türkiye’s Van province, have revealed the remains of a palace and settlement linked to Hulagu Khan, the founder of the Ilkhanate and grandson