Handprints with Missing Fingertips in Prehistoric Cave Art Point to Ritual Amputation
A recent interpretation of Paleolithic cave art suggests that prehistoric people severed their fingers as part of religious ceremonies, according to researchers who studied prehistoric cave art in France and Spain. Professor Mark Collard and PhD candidate Brea McCauley of Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Department of Archaeology have considered over 200 hand images with one
1400-year-old coins found in a piggy bank discovered during Hadrianopolis excavations
Ten 1400-year-old coins were found in a jug discovered during the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis, also known as the Zeugma of the Black Sea. Excavations in the ancient city, which witnessed the Late Chalcolithic, Roman and Early Byzantine periods, continue under the leadership of Karabük University Faculty of Letters, Department of
Archaeologists found an 8500-year-old trepanned skull at Çatalhöyük
A skull found in the 9,000-year-old Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük in Konya showed traces of trepanation (skull drilling). Çatalhöyük is a mound near Küçükköy in the Çumra district of Konya, which has been inhabited since 7000 BC. Çatalhöyük consists of two mound areas. The eastern mound was inhabited during the Neolithic Age and the western
The vomitorium of the Smyrna Theater is being uncovered
In the ancient city of Smyrna, located in the center of Izmir province in Turkey, one of the two vomitoriums of a theater estimated to have a capacity of about 20,000 spectators is being uncovered. A vomitorium is a passageway beneath or behind a row of seats in an amphitheater or stadium, allowing large crowds
The 2600-Year-Old Altar Unearthed at Oluz Mound Will Shed Light on the History of Ancient Near Eastern Religion
The 2600-year-old Median period altar discovered in Oluz Höyük, which has a history of 6000 years, will shed light on the religious history and religious archeology of Asia Minor. Oluz Höyük is located 3 kilometers south of the Amasya-Çorum highway, about 2 kilometers northwest of Gözlek Village, and approximately 5 kilometers east of Toklucak (formerly
Demeter figurines were found in the ancient city of Aigai, the land of goats
During the excavation works at Aigai Ancient City, which derives its name from the Greek word ‘αίγα’ meaning goat, two statuettes depicting Demeter, known in Greek mythology as the goddess of earth and fertility, along with fragments of an embossed vase, were found in a cistern. Aigai is located near the Köseler neighborhood of Yunt
1,600-year-old woman’s sandal and comb found in the wreckage of the Theodosius Harbor
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
During the basic excavation, settlement dating back to the Roman and Hellenistic periods was discovered
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 5000-year-old goddess figurine was found at Yassıtepe mound
A 10-centimeter goddess figurine made of baked clay, estimated to be 5000 years old, was found in the excavations of Yassıtepe mound (also known as Yeşilova mound). Yassıtepe mound, located within the boundaries of Kazım Dirik neighborhood in Bornova District, is situated in an area between Forum Bornova (a shopping mall), Manda Creek, and the
Kastabala Ancient City, the “Ephesus” of Çukurova, whose name is determined by an Aramaic inscription
Kastabala, located about 12 kilometers north of the city center of Osmaniye in the southern region of Türkiye, is an ancient city with a history dating back approximately 2,000 years. Kastabala, situated to the northwest of the Ceyhan River, often referred to as the “Ephesus of Çukurova.” The Kastabala archaeological site is situated at the