3,000-Meter-High Stronghold Discovered in Eastern Türkiye May Reveal Urartian Secrets
Archaeologists unveil a massive high-altitude Iron Age fortress in Van’s Tirişin Plateau, offering rare insight into the military and pastoral strategies of ancient eastern Anatolia. In a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of highland civilizations in eastern Anatolia, archaeologists in Türkiye have uncovered the ruins of a colossal mountain-top fortress nearly 3,000 meters
Bilkent University Takes Over Excavations at Ancient Sagalassos, the Summit of Pisidia
One of the most ambitious archaeological transitions in Türkiye has taken place in the ancient city of Sagalassos, nestled high in the Taurus Mountains. Bilkent University has officially assumed the directorship of the Sagalassos excavations from the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium, after 35 years of continuous research. The project is now led
Reviving the Bread of the Hittites: Ancient Recipe Recreated by Women’s Cooperative in Central Türkiye
In the heart of Anatolia, a 3,500-year-old culinary tradition has been brought back to life. Inspired by cuneiform tablets unearthed in the ancient Hittite capital of Hattusa (modern-day Boğazkale), a women’s cooperative in the Turkish province of Çorum has successfully recreated “Hittite bread” using organic, pre-industrial methods. Led by agricultural engineer Tuba Topkara, the Valide
The Statue of Hestia, the Guardian Goddess of Aigai, from the Hellenistic Period, is Now on Display at the Manisa Museum
A 2.7-meter-tall marble statue of the goddess Hestia, discovered in 2005 during excavations at the ancient city of Aigai in western Türkiye, is now on display for the first time. Believed to be the only known Hestia statue from the Hellenistic period that has survived to the present day, it is showcased in a specially
119 Years of Excavations at Hattusa: New Discoveries in the Mysterious Area Between the Great Temple and Palace
In Boğazkale, Çorum Province, the ancient capital of the Hittites, Hattusa, has entered its 119th season of excavation. Led by Professor Dr. Andreas Schachner, the archaeological team is conducting in-depth research between the Great Temple and the palace, aiming to uncover new insights into the Hittite civilization’s different periods and their cultural heritage. A Century-Long
Star of David with a Cross Found in Roman-Byzantine Mosaic in Türkiye: Rare Symbolism Unearthed in Unexpected Discovery
The 35-square-meter mosaic also contains a six-line petition written in Ancient Greek In an extraordinary discovery in southeastern Türkiye, a Roman–Byzantine-era mosaic featuring a Star of David with a Christian cross embedded inside has been unearthed during a burial excavation in Ergani, Diyarbakır. The 35-square-meter mosaic floor, which also includes a six-line inscription in Ancient
A First in Anatolian Archaeology: 2,050-Year-Old Hexagonal Council House Unearthed in Laodicea
During the 2025 excavation season at Laodicea, an ancient city located in Denizli and listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, archaeologists have uncovered a unique 2,050-year-old council house (bouleuterion) dating back to the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus. The architectural rarity stands out for its unusual hexagonal design—marking the first such example ever
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
New Clues of a Late Byzantine Production Zone Uncovered at Kadıkalesi (Anaia) in Western Türkiye
Archaeological excavations at the historic site of Kadıkalesi (ancient Anaia) in Kuşadası, western Türkiye, have revealed compelling traces of glass and ceramic production dating back to the 13th century. Led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suna Çağaptay from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, the excavations uncovered two new architectural spaces, one of which yielded pithos fragments—large storage
Echoes of the Aegean: 2,200-Year-Old Theater in Ancient Assos Set for Restoration
Poised dramatically on a volcanic hillside overlooking the sapphire waters of the Aegean and the distant peaks of Lesbos, the 2,200-year-old Hellenistic theater of Assos is about to return to the spotlight. One of Anatolia’s best-preserved ancient theaters is now entering a major restoration phase that aims to reawaken its role as a cultural gathering