A 4,000-Year-Old Silver Goblet Links Anatolia to the Earliest Visions of Cosmic Order
A small silver cup, unearthed decades ago in the Judean Hills, has returned to the center of scholarly debate—this time with Anatolia firmly in the discussion. Known as the ʿAin Samiya Goblet, the vessel dates to the Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 2650–1950 BCE) and bears one of the most elaborate mythological compositions known from the
The Most Important Oracle of the Aiolis Region: The 2,300-Year-Old Temple of Apollo Khresterios at Aigai
Hidden deep within a rural valley of western Türkiye, far from modern roads and urban pressure, the Temple of Apollo Khresterios stands as one of the most intact and enigmatic oracle centers of the ancient world. Located near the ancient city of Aigai, the sanctuary played a central role in the religious life of the
New Research Pushes Human Presence in Anatolia Back Nearly One Million Years
Archaeological fieldwork in southeastern Türkiye is reshaping the deep prehistory of Anatolia. New evidence from Gaziantep suggests the region was not merely a corridor for early humans during the Ice Age—but a long-term habitat stretching back close to one million years. A Key Region in Anatolia’s Ice Age Landscape The research is being carried out
Çatalhöyük Study Wins Major Award in Poland: Turkish Scientists Help Redefine Neolithic Social Structure
A groundbreaking study on the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük has received international recognition in Poland, after being selected as the most important foreign archaeological discovery of 2025 by Polish archaeologists. The award highlights research that challenges long-standing assumptions about social organization in early farming communities—placing women at the center of Neolithic life. The distinction was
A 5,000-Year-Old Skull Reveals One of the Earliest Medical Interventions in Anatolia
One of the most striking testimonies to early medical knowledge in Anatolia is now on display at the Samsun Museum. Dating back nearly 5,000 years, a human skull bearing clear evidence of surgical intervention is considered among the earliest known examples of cranial surgery in human history. What makes this discovery exceptional is not only
Excavations at Alalakh Are Shaping a New Late Bronze Age Cuneiform Archive
At Alalakh, archaeologists have identified the remains of a new Late Bronze Age cuneiform tablet archive during the 2025 excavation season. The discovery offers a rare, context-rich view of how administration functioned in one of the Levant’s key ancient cities. The work forms part of the long-running Tell Atchana excavations in Hatay, Türkiye, carried out
In Midas’ Shadow? The Royal Phrygian Tumulus in Western Anatolia Is Reshaping the Power Map
For much of the last century, the political and ceremonial geography of Phrygia has been interpreted through a single focal point: Gordion. Long regarded as the unquestioned center of royal authority, the city shaped how scholars understood power, hierarchy, and elite identity in Iron Age Anatolia. A newly analyzed burial from western Anatolia, however, is
Anatolia’s First Monetary Memory: Lydian Silver Coins and the Birth of Coinage
Anatolia is widely recognized as the birthplace of coinage, where standardized money first emerged as a state-backed medium of exchange. The earliest and most compelling evidence of this transformation comes from silver coins struck during the Lydian period, marking a decisive shift from barter to measurable economic value. Together, these coins form Anatolia’s first monetary
The World’s Oldest Swords and the Birth of Warfare at Arslantepe
More than four decades ago, excavations at Arslantepe Mound revealed a find that would fundamentally alter how archaeologists understand the origins of warfare. Unearthed inside a mud-brick palace complex, a cache of nine metal blades—long regarded today as the world’s oldest known swords—pushed the emergence of sword technology back by at least a millennium. Until
When a Village Courtyard Hid a King: The Neo-Hittite Reliefs of Sakçagözü
In southeastern Anatolia, near the modern village of Sakçagözü, an extraordinary chapter of Neo-Hittite art once lay in plain sight—embedded not in a museum wall, but in an ordinary village courtyard. What appeared to be a utilitarian stone block was, in fact, a monumental royal relief dating to the 8th century BC, carved for a