600-Year-Old Rock-Cut Ottoman Endowment Inscription Restored in Amasya, Possibly Unique Worldwide
A 600-year-old Ottoman endowment inscription carved directly into natural bedrock has been restored in Amasya, northern Türkiye. Dating to 1418, the Bayezid Pasha foundation text is now readable again after years of damage, and experts say it may represent the only known example of a waqf inscription carved into living rock anywhere in the world.
A Lost City Revealed by Chance: Ara Güler’s Photographs Brought Aphrodisias to the World
In 1958, the ancient city of Aphrodisias had yet to enter global awareness when Ara Güler took a wrong turn on a rural road in southwestern Türkiye.He was on assignment, covering a dam project in Aydın province. But an unexpected detour led him to the village of Geyre—and to something far older than anything he
Harbetsuvan Tepesi Reveals Organized Neolithic Settlement 10,000 Years Ago
Harbetsuvan Tepesi, in southeastern Türkiye, doesn’t look like much at first. Low rises, scattered stones—nothing that immediately signals a breakthrough. But beneath that quiet surface, new research is pointing to something far more revealing: even small Neolithic communities were already living in structured, carefully organized settlements nearly 10,000 years ago. A Dense Settlement, Not a
147 Artifacts from 10,000-Year-Old Hasankeyf Go on Public Display for the First Time
For the first time, 147 archaeological artifacts unearthed in Hasankeyf are now on public display, offering visitors a rare, long-overdue encounter with one of Upper Mesopotamia’s deepest historical archives. Previously kept in storage, the collection has been brought into view as part of a new exhibition initiative at the Hasankeyf Museum. The display forms the
2,000-Year-Old Medusa Mosaic at Kibyra Reopens to Visitors in Türkiye
In the ancient city of Kibyra, located in Burdur’s Gölhisar district, one of the most remarkable surviving works of Roman stone craftsmanship has been revealed once again. The 2,000-year-old Medusa mosaic, protected throughout the winter months, has now reopened to visitors with the arrival of the new season. Seasonal conservation and reopening Each year, the
5,000-Year-Old Bread Discovered at Küllüoba Reveals Early Recipe and Ritual Use in Bronze Age Anatolia
A charred piece of bread unearthed at Küllüoba Höyük, near Eskişehir in western Türkiye, is offering an unusually intimate glimpse into daily life—and symbolic practices—during the Early Bronze Age. Dating back roughly 5,000 years, the find stands out not only for its preservation, but for where it was discovered: placed near the threshold of a
600-Year-Old Pool Discovered Inside Ottoman Mosque in Bursa During Restoration
A long-hidden architectural feature has come to light inside Bursa’s historic Muradiye Mosque, offering a rare glimpse into early Ottoman design practices. During ongoing restoration work, experts uncovered what is believed to be a nearly 600-year-old pool embedded within the mosque’s interior. Rediscovered Water Feature Sheds Light on Ottoman Design The Muradiye Mosque, commissioned by
Stolen Angel Statue Returns to Heybeliada Monastery After 21 Years
A religious artifact stolen more than two decades ago has finally been returned to its original home in Istanbul, marking the conclusion of a long legal and investigative process. The “Angel Statue,” identified as belonging to the Aya Yorgi Monastery on Heybeliada, was officially handed over to representatives of the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. From
Under the Blazing Sun, It All Began: The First Day of the Patara Lighthouse Excavation
The Patara Lighthouse excavation began under a blazing July sun in 2004, as a small team of archaeologists and students pushed through sand and heat with little indication of what lay beneath. There was no road, no visible structure—only dunes stretching toward the sea. But even then, there was a growing sense that this was
Central Anatolia’s Largest Mosaic Site Officially Declared an Archaeological Area in Kayseri
A major archaeological site in central Türkiye has gained official protection status after years of excavation revealed one of the region’s most extensive mosaic complexes. The mosaic structure uncovered in Örenşehir, İncesu (Kayseri)—described as the largest of its kind in Central Anatolia—has now been formally designated as an “archaeological site” (ören yeri), marking a significant