1,800-Year-Old Cybele Statue Rescued from Looters Now Displayed at Diyarbakır’s İçkale Museum
A 1,800-year-old limestone statue believed to represent the Mother Goddess Cybele — once nearly cut apart by looters — has been meticulously restored and placed on public display in the garden of Diyarbakır’s İçkale Museum. Originally brought from Şanlıurfa in 1935, the piece was saved from smugglers by the gendarmerie and now features in the
It was thought to be an ordinary water source: the Roman Pool of Bahçeli turns out to be a healing sanctuary
Eighty years after the last excavation, the Roman Pool in Bahçeli, a town near Bor in Niğde Province, has revealed an entirely new identity. Once believed to be a mere component of Tyana’s water supply system, the monumental pool has now been identified as part of a Roman healing sanctuary dedicated to the god Asklepios
Roman City of Pompeiopolis Reconstructed with AI: Ancient Glory Revived in Northern Türkiye
In a pioneering cultural initiative, the ancient Roman city of Pompeiopolis in northern Türkiye’s Kastamonu province has been digitally reconstructed using artificial intelligence, offering a vivid glimpse into the grandeur of the city as it stood nearly 2,000 years ago. Located in the Taşköprü district, Pompeiopolis was once the capital of the Roman province of
3,000-Year-Old Urartian Wall Paintings Protected Beneath Van’s Garibin Hill
Deep beneath the rugged terrain of eastern Türkiye, archaeologists have uncovered one of the most extraordinary artistic survivals of the Urartian Kingdom — a network of subterranean chambers whose walls still bear vivid, 3,000-year-old paintings. The fragile murals, discovered accidentally during an illegal excavation in Van’s Tuşba district, are now being carefully preserved under a
Traces of Ancient Trade Emerge in the Excavations at Xanthos, the Lycian Capital
Archaeologists excavating the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Xanthos, once the administrative heart of the Lycian Civilization in Antalya’s Kaş district, have uncovered evidence shedding new light on commercial life in antiquity. The findings reveal that the settlement’s trading activities stretched much deeper into history than previously assumed. Overlooking the fertile plains shaped by the Eşen
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