A 600-Year-Old Prayer Room Found Hidden Under a Firewood Storage in Cappadocia
What appeared to be a simple firewood storage area in the village of Taşkınpaşa, Cappadocia, central Türkiye, has revealed a centuries-old Islamic prayer room. Experts date the rock-cut site to approximately 600 years ago, possibly from the Eretnaid period. During a surface survey conducted by art historians from Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (NEVÜ), a
Priene, Anatolia’s First Planned City, Poised for Permanent UNESCO World Heritage Listing
Located in Söke district of Aydın province, Türkiye, Priene Ancient City dates back to the 4th century BCE and stands as Anatolia’s earliest known planned city. With its strategic stone walls measuring 2 meters thick and a highly organized urban layout, Priene is now undergoing intensive efforts for permanent inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage
2025 Excavations Begin at Oylum Höyük, a Major Administrative Center of the Hittite Period
Archaeologists have launched the 2025 excavation season at Oylum Höyük, one of the largest archaeological mounds in southeastern Türkiye, located near the Syrian border in Kilis. The site, known for its strategic importance during the Hittite Empire, is yielding new clues about political and administrative structures in the Late Bronze Age. The excavation is being
Ancient Two-Story Stoa Unearthed in Assos Reflects Hellenistic Royal Architecture
Archaeologists in the ancient city of Assos have begun uncovering a monumental 3,500-year-old stoa—an architectural structure once used as a covered walkway or gathering space in classical Greece. Stretching 110 meters in length and spanning two stories, the stoa is believed to represent a hallmark of Hellenistic royal design, reflecting the influence of Pergamon kings
Archaeological excavations continue at the 8,000-year-old Tozkoparan Mound in eastern Türkiye
After a two-year hiatus, archaeological excavations have resumed at Tozkoparan Mound, located in the Pertek district of Tunceli, eastern Türkiye. Recognized as a first-degree archaeological site in 2017, the mound is believed to contain layers of human settlement dating back over 8,000 years. New findings are expected to shed light on prehistoric life in Eastern
A First in Türkiye: Hands-On Bioarchaeology Workshop at Arslantepe Mound Begins
Arslantepe Mound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Battalgazi district of Malatya, is hosting Turkey’s first-ever hands-on bioarchaeology workshop. Running from July 11 to July 25, 2025, this scientific training program marks a milestone in archaeological education in the country. Led by Prof. Dr. Francesca Balossi Restelli from Sapienza University of Rome and
2,700-Year-Old Urartian Columns Unearthed at Kef Castle: A Discovery Shedding Light on Anatolian History
Archaeological excavations at Kef Castle, located in the Adilcevaz district of Bitlis province, have revealed a stunning discovery: 49 massive “elephant foot” columns, dating back nearly 2,700 years to the Urartian period. Perched on the slopes of Mount Süphan and overlooking the breathtaking Van Lake, Kef Castle was built by King Rusa II of the
Excavations Resume at Tralleis Ancient City in Aydın: Italian Archaeologists Join 2025 Season
The ancient city of Tralleis, located in the Efeler district of Aydın and considered one of the region’s earliest settlements, has entered its 29th year of archaeological excavations. The 2025 excavation season is currently underway, focusing mainly on the bath and gymnasium complex, with a new team of archaeologists arriving from Italy to join the
2,000-Year-Old Shops and Stoa Unearthed in Patara, the Capital of the Ancient Lycian League
Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable new section of the ancient city of Patara, located in Türkiye’s Antalya province, revealing a series of 2,000-year-old shops and a stoa (colonnaded walkway) near the city’s monumental gate. Once the capital of the Lycian League, one of the earliest known democratic federations in history, Patara continues to captivate with
Queen’s Tombs of the Kommagene Kingdom to Be Unveiled at Karakuş Tumulus in Adıyaman
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced plans to excavate the queen’s tombs at the Karakuş Tumulus, located in Adıyaman, Türkiye. These tombs are believed to belong to Isas, the wife of King Antiochos I, their daughter Antiokhis, and granddaughter Aka of the ancient Kommagene Kingdom. Following detailed georadar and geophysical surveys that identified