Before the Hittites: 8,000-Year-Old Rock Art Discovered in Central Anatolia
Archaeologists have discovered prehistoric rock engravings estimated to be around 8,000 years old in the Develi district of Kayseri, a region located in the heart of Central Anatolia. The discovery, now awaiting official registration, offers rare insight into one of the earliest symbolic traditions known in the region—long before the rise of the Hittite civilization.
Terracotta Figurines of Myra Return Home After 2,100 Years
Unearthed in the ancient city’s Hellenistic layers, the colorful terracottas are now displayed where they were first crafted — inside Myra’s ancient theater. In the heart of Lycia, a collection of delicate terracotta figurines discovered in the ancient city of Myra has been unveiled to the public for the first time. The exhibition, titled “Terracotta
5,000-Year-Old Earthquake Collapse Uncovered at Çayönü Mound in Southeastern Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating the prehistoric settlement of Çayönü Tepesi in Diyarbakır’s Ergani district have uncovered the remains of a building that collapsed during a powerful earthquake roughly 5,000 years ago — a rare glimpse into the seismic past of one of Anatolia’s earliest farming communities. Layers of a Forgotten Tremor The discovery was announced by Assoc.
Architectural Traces Predating the Karaz Culture Unearthed in Eastern Anatolia’s Değirmenler Mound
Archaeologists in eastern Türkiye have uncovered architectural remains predating the Karaz (Early Bronze Age) culture during ongoing rescue excavations at Değirmenler Mound in Erzurum’s Yakutiye district. The discovery—revealing structures, hearths, ovens, and domestic layers dating back more than 6,000 years—suggests that settled life in the region began earlier than previously believed. The excavation, conducted under
Night Museum Experience Begins in Sardis, the Ancient City Where Money Was First Minted
The ancient city of Sardis, once the glittering capital of the Lydian Kingdom and the birthplace of the world’s first coinage, is stepping into a new era. Following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2025, the site has completed an extensive illumination project that now allows visitors to explore its ruins
Foundation of One of the Twelve Gates Built Against the Mongol Threat Unearthed in the Seljuk Capital Konya
Archaeological excavations in Türkiye’s central city of Konya have brought to light the foundation of one of the twelve monumental gates that once guarded the Seljuk capital during the reign of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I (r. 1220–1237). The newly uncovered structure, identified as the Larende Gate, formed part of the outer defensive walls commissioned by
A 5,000-Year-Old Pithos Grave in Küllüoba Reveals a Hand Relief with a Missing Finger — A Possible Symbol of Mourning
Archaeologists working at Küllüoba Mound in Türkiye’s Eskişehir province have uncovered a striking find that sheds light on the emotional world of Early Bronze Age communities. A 5,000-year-old pithos grave (burial jar) features a hand relief with one finger missing — a detail researchers believe may symbolize an ancient expression of grief or mourning. The
19th-Century Silk Workshop Unearthed in the Ancient City of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum, Bursa
Archaeologists in northwestern Türkiye have uncovered a 19th-century silk workshop hidden within the ruins of Simitçi Castle, part of the ancient city of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum in Bursa’s Gölyazı neighborhood. The find reveals a rare continuity between the city’s ancient industrial past and Bursa’s later fame as the “City of Silk.” Led by Prof. Derya
Ancient Market and Water System Unearthed in the Carian City of Hyllarima, Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Hyllarima in Muğla’s Kavaklıdere district have uncovered a series of well-preserved shop units and water channels in the city’s agora, revealing new insights into urban planning and daily life in inland Caria over two millennia ago. Located in the Derebağ neighborhood, Hyllarima is among the oldest settlements of inland
Digital Pathways to the Hittite World: AI and Archaeology Unite to Decode an Ancient Empire
A new research initiative from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is reshaping how scholars study the Hittite Empire—one of the most formidable powers of Bronze Age Anatolia. The project, titled “Digital Pathways to the Hittite World,” merges archaeology, philology, and artificial intelligence to transform the long-standing Hethitologie-Portal Mainz (HPM) into a next-generation research platform. Rebuilding an Empire—Data