April 2026 proved to be a significant month for archaeology in Turkey, as discoveries and restorations spanned millennia — from prehistoric ways of life to Ottoman heritage — revealing just how layered the region's past truly is. Highlights included the unveiling of a monumental marble Athena in Laodicea, new churches redefining the Byzantine pilgrimage landscape of Binbirkilise, and fresh insights into early diet and ritual at Karahantepe. At the same time, finds like a 5,000-year-old loaf of bread from Küllüoba Höyük and a rare Byzantine gold hoard from Sivas are reshaping our understanding of daily life and crisis in the ancient world. Alongside these discoveries, major restoration and heritage efforts — from Mount Nemrut reopening to visitors to ongoing work at Aspendos — underscore a growing commitment to preserving and presenting this legacy, even as threats like looting and environmental damage continue to challenge it.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for April 2026. Have we missed anything? Please let us know by using Contact tab!
April 1, 2026
18th-century church in Türkiye's Ordu set to welcome visitors again
Ayanikola Island, a historic site in the Unye district of Ordu province containing the remains of an 18th-century church, is all set for restoration following the approval of a restoration and landscaping project, after which it will be opened to visitors. Source: Türkiye Today
Canada returns 11 historic manuscripts, calligraphy works to Türkiye
Türkiye has received its first official return of cultural artefacts from Canada, with 11 historic works now set to come back to their country of origin after a Canadian court approved their repatriation. Source: Türkiye Today
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. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
April 3, 2026
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. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
April 4, 2026
Historic Bayburt Castle to reveal secrets in new excavation
A team of experts is set to arrive next month at Bayburt Castle, where excavations are expected to begin in mid-June as part of a new project aimed at bringing its layered past to light. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
2,400-year-old Urartian castle in Erzurum set for restoration
The long-closed Oltu Castle, a Urartian-era fortress in Erzurum’s Oltu district, is set to undergo extensive restoration in the coming months. Source: Türkiye Today
April 5, 2026
Suspects caught digging for treasure in protected archaeological site in Istanbul
Three individuals were caught in the act while carrying out an illegal excavation inside a protected archaeological area in Istanbul’s Fatih district, authorities said, highlighting ongoing risks to cultural heritage sites. Source: Türkiye Today
April 6, 2026
Khresis Mosaic Reveals the Hidden Wealth of Ancient Troy in Hatay
The Khresis Mosaic, one of the most remarkable archaeological discoveries in southern Türkiye, continues to draw attention for its historical depth and symbolic meaning. Dating back to the early 4th century AD, the mosaic was uncovered in the Daphne (Harbiye) Ancient City, specifically within the House of the Triumph of Dionysos. Source: Arkeonews
Buried at a Doorway for 5,000 Years: Ancient Bread Reveals a Lost Recipe—and a Ritual
A charred piece of bread, buried for five millennia beneath the soil of central Anatolia, is now rewriting what we know about early cuisine—and the symbolic role of food in ancient societies. New research published in reveals that a remarkably well-preserved loaf unearthed at Küllüoba Höyük, near Eskişehir in modern-day Türkiye, is not only one of the oldest known examples of bread from the Early Bronze Age, but also one of the clearest windows into how—and why—people baked it. Source: Arkeonews
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. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
April 7, 2026
Madrasa preserves Seljuk heritage in Isparta
The Ertokuş Madrasa, built around 8 centuries ago in the southern province of Isparta’s Atabey district by Seljuk frontier commander Ertokuş Gazi, continues to survive as a significant cultural heritage site. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Snow crowns Mount Nemrut as stone giants welcome visitors
Mount Nemrut Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located within the Kahta district of Adiyaman province, has opened to visitors this week following months of winter closure, with roads to the summit cleared of snow on April 4. Source: Türkiye Today
April 8, 2026
Exhibition marks 120 years of Hattuşa excavations in Çorum
A photography exhibition titled “120 Years of Visual Memory of the Hattuşa Excavations: 1906–2026” has opened in the Boğazkale district of Çorum to mark the 40th anniversary of the ancient city of Hattuşa being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 9, 2026
Historic Russian church to serve as library
A new cultural project has been initiated to repurpose a historic Russian church in the eastern province of Erzurum’s Oltu district into a library, reimagining the heritage site as a vibrant hub for the city’s youth. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Road work reveals 200-year-old hidden Ottoman bridge in northern Türkiye
During ongoing urban road improvement works in Rize, municipal authorities have uncovered a 200-year-old historic arch bridge, long concealed beneath layers of soil and asphalt. The bridge, known locally as “Citanin Bridge,” dates back to 1826 and will be restored and integrated into a public heritage space. Source: Türkiye Today
April 10, 2026
Ancient walls of Sillyon restored
The historic fortification walls of the ancient city of Sillyon, known for having withstood Alexander the Great, have been restored in the Serik district of Antalya. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
A remarkable collection of Byzantine gold coins, known as the “Sivas Hoard,” is shedding new light on one of the most turbulent periods in early medieval history. Preserved today at the Sivas Archaeological Museum, this rare 7th-century treasure offers historians and archaeologists a unique glimpse into the economic, political, and social realities of the Byzantine Empire during a time of crisis and transformation. Source: Arkeonews
Türkiye's Side gains second museum: Ancient hospital building revitalised
The ancient city of Side on Türkiye’s southern coast is being reshaped through new excavation, restoration and museum work under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's "Heritage for the Future" project, including the opening of the Side Arif Mufid Mansel Archaeology Museum, bringing newly uncovered remains into view while opening up fresh routes for visitors across one of the country’s busiest tourism destinations. Source: Türkiye Today
Aspendos expands beyond its iconic theater as new discoveries reshape the ancient city
Long known almost exclusively for its remarkably preserved Roman theater, the Ancient City of Aspendos in Antalya, southern Türkiye, is now emerging as a far more complex urban center, as ongoing excavations reveal streets, monuments, and structures that had remained hidden for centuries. Source: Türkiye Today
Executions revealed: Anatolia's Perge stadium transformed into arena of death
In the ancient city of Perge in southern Türkiye, new archaeological findings show that a section of the Roman-era stadium was later transformed into an arena where executions took place, offering rare insight into how public spectacles evolved in antiquity. Source: Türkiye Today
April 11, 2026
A series of fresh archaeological findings in central Anatolia is reshaping what scholars know about one of the region’s most enigmatic sacred landscapes. In the volcanic highlands north of Karaman, researchers have identified at least 15 previously undocumented churches and chapels within the historic “Binbir Kilise” (Thousand and One Churches) region—offering compelling new evidence that the area once functioned as a major Byzantine pilgrimage center. Source: Arkeonews
April 12, 2026
833-year-old mosque in central Türkiye enters fresh restoration phase
Restoration efforts at the historic Great Mosque of Sivas, renowned for its distinctive leaning minaret and dating back approximately 833 years, are continuing in accordance with the planned schedule under the supervision of the Regional Directorate of Foundations. Source: Türkiye Today
April 13, 2026
Historic house serves as museum
A historic house in northwestern Türkiye, where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk reunited with his mother after two years during the War of Independence, continues to serve as a museum, offering visitors a journey through history. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
2,700-Year-Old Urartian Dams May Have Surpassed Early Roman Engineering
For decades, the story of ancient water engineering has been dominated by Rome—its aqueducts, its urban systems, its monumental scale. But long before Roman engineers reshaped the cities of the Mediterranean, another civilization was already transforming entire landscapes under far harsher conditions. Source: Arkeonews
April 14, 2026
Ancient rock tombs, fortress reveal Hellenistic past
The ancient Asarkale fortress and the King Rock Tombs in the Bafra district of the northern province of Samsun stand among the region’s most significant historical assets from the Hellenistic period. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archives reveal Atatürk’s battlefield directives during Gallipoli Campaign
Newly shared archival documents from the Turkish Defense Ministry offer fresh insight into critical commands issued by modern Türkiye founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and other commanding officers during the Gallipoli Campaign. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 15, 2026
St. Paul routes intersect 17-century life at ancient city of Adada
Archaeological work at the ancient city of Adada in Türkiye’s southwestern Isparta province is shedding new light on a settlement that remained inhabited for roughly 17 centuries, while also pointing to a notably advanced local administrative system. Source: Türkiye Today
Türkiye's Balikli Greek Hospital restored in line with original design after fire
The Istanbul Governor's Office said Balikli Greek Hospital, which suffered severe damage in the Aug. 4, 2022 fire, has been brought back to life through restoration work carried out under the Yadigar project. Source: Türkiye Today
A remarkable 2,200-year-old land lease contract uncovered near Fethiye is shedding new light on the socio-economic and agricultural systems of the Hellenistic world. The inscribed stone fragment, now preserved by the Fethiye Archaeology Museum, provides rare and detailed insights into ancient land management practices connected to the historic Amos Ancient City. Source: Arkeonews
Marble head from Smyrna returned to Türkiye from US museum
A marble sculpted head originating from the ancient city of Smyrna has been returned to Türkiye from the U.S. following a joint effort between Turkish authorities and the Denver Art Museum. The artifact, verified through scientific and archival evidence, is now on display at the Izmir Archaeology Museum. Source: Daily Sabah
Troy’s past is on the move—next stop: Rome
Selected artifacts from the Troy Museum are undergoing careful restoration and conservation ahead of a major exhibition at the Colosseum Archaeological Park, where they will be presented to an international audience as part of a Troy-themed showcase. Source: Türkiye Today
3,500-Year-Old Young Hittite Storm God Figurine Goes on Display for the First Time in Türkiye
A remarkably small yet technically sophisticated Hittite storm god figurine, dating back approximately 3,500 years, is now on public display for the first time at the Boğazköy Museum. The artifact, discovered by chance by a local resident in central Türkiye, is already drawing strong attention from archaeologists due to its rare craftsmanship and cultural significance. Source: Arkeonews
April 16, 2026
Ancient lease uncovered in Türkiye reveals 2,200-year-old farming contract
A newly identified inscription tied to the Ancient City of Amos in southwestern Türkiye has brought to light a detailed land lease contract dating to the 2nd century B.C., offering a rare glimpse into how agriculture and legal obligations were set out in the Hellenistic period. Source: Türkiye Today
Police seize 203 historical objects in Izmir as illegal treasure hunting on the rise
Police carried out an operation in the Kinik district of Izmir as part of ongoing efforts to prevent the smuggling of cultural property. Acting on intelligence, officers raided a specific address and recovered a collection believed to date back to the Roman, Hellenistic and Byzantine periods. Source: Türkiye Today
April 17, 2026
Restored Karakoy Palace to reopen as new cultural hub in Istanbul
A restored historic building in Istanbul is set to be brought back into public life as a new culture and arts venue, with Karakoy Palace scheduled to reopen on April 25 following a comprehensive restoration led by the Culture and Civilization Foundation (KUME). Source: Türkiye Today
Historic Dutch naval cannon found in dismantled ship goes on display in Türkiye
A bronze naval cannon and cannonballs dating back to the early 17th century have been put on public display in Izmir after being discovered during the dismantling of a ship brought to Türkiye for scrapping. Source: Türkiye Today
Rare 1,500-Year-Old Knife Set Found Together in Hadrianopolis Reveals Deep Roots of Animal Husbandry
Archaeologists working at Hadrianopolis often referred to as the “Black Sea’s Zeugma” have uncovered a rare knife set found together in a single context, offering new insight into daily life in Late Antiquity. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
April 19, 2026
Hidden heritage in Cappadocia set to open up as new cultural destination
Little-known site in Cappadocia, known locally as “Golgoli,” is being brought to light as restoration and cleaning work reveals monastic ruins and rock-cut structures on Meryem Ana Mountain, or Mount of Virgin Mary, positioning the area as a new hub for cultural and faith-based tourism. Source: Türkiye Today
Restored Ottoman madrasa in Türkiye set to become city’s first archaeology museum
A 466-year-old Ottoman madrasa in southeastern Türkiye has been brought back to life through restoration, with plans now in place to turn the site into an archaeology museum and strengthen the city’s cultural tourism offer. Source: Türkiye Today
April 21, 2026
Only Foundations Remain of 2,100-Year-Old Zeus Temple After Looting Damage
A 2,100-year-old Zeus temple in Amasya, recognized as the only known example of its kind in Türkiye’s Black Sea region, has been reduced to little more than its foundation stones, after years of neglect and repeated illegal excavations that have gradually eroded what once stood on one of the area’s most commanding hilltops. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
April 22, 2026
Smallest Hittite storm god figurine debuts in Türkiye
A 3,500-year-old Hittite bronze figurine, believed to be the smallest known depiction of Tarhunza, the Storm God of Heaven, has gone on public display for the first time after being discovered by a local resident and handed over to the Bogazkoy Museum. Source: Türkiye Today
Hidden beneath Türkiye, ancient tunnel opens to sacred Hittite waters
At the heart of the ongoing excavations at the Oymaagac Mound in Samsun, northern Türkiye, archaeologists have brought to light a striking underground spring linked to the ancient Hittite city of Nerik. Source: Türkiye Today
April 23, 2026
Archaeologists discover giant marble Athena statue in ancient Laodicea in Türkiye
Archaeologists in the ancient city of Laodicea recently discovered a massive 2-meter-tall white marble statue of Athena during the ongoing excavation and restoration work. Source: Türkiye Today
April 24, 2026
2,000-Year-Old Roman Coin from Apameia Reveals One of the Earliest Depictions of Noah’s Ark
A remarkable Roman coin minted in ancient Apameia Kibotos—today’s Dinar—is drawing renewed attention for carrying what may be the earliest known biblical scene ever struck on currency. Dating between AD 192 and 253, the coin offers a rare fusion of Roman imperial authority and early Judeo-Christian imagery. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
April 25, 2026
300-year-old Ottoman heritage removal sparks dispute in Istanbul
The 300-year-old Ottoman fountain in Istanbul’s Beykoz district has been demolished and replaced with a new marble structure, triggering public anger and a dispute between heritage authorities, the municipality, and local officials over responsibility for the intervention. Source: Türkiye Today
April 27, 2026
Ulu Mosque undergoes most comprehensive restoration
Restoration work is continuing at the 829-year-old Ulu Mosque, one of the best surviving monuments of the Seljuk period, under a project launched by the General Directorate of Foundations of the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Troy exhibition opens in Rome on June 11 with 221 artifacts from Türkiye
An ancient story rooted in war, myth and migration is being reassembled at one of the world’s most visited landmarks, as artifacts from Türkiye prepare to go on display inside Rome’s Colosseum. Source: Türkiye Today
April 28, 2026
Karahantepe reveals 12,000-year-old diet of gazelle, legumes
Recent lab results from Karahantepe, a major archaeological site, are now revealing more about daily life at the start of settled human civilization. Source: Türkiye Today
Lystra, Imagined in Western Art, Begins Its 2026 Excavation Season in Konya
Lystra Ancient City has entered its 2026 excavation season in Konya’s Meram district, where archaeologists are continuing to investigate one of the rare Anatolian settlements linked to Saint Paul and early Christian memory. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Ancient rock art in Türkiye’s Latmos Mountains faces irreversible damage
Thousands of years of human history etched into stone in western Türkiye are under growing threat. Experts and environmental groups warn that damage to prehistoric rock paintings in the Latmos Mountains may soon become irreversible. Source: Türkiye Today
April 29, 2026
Roman tomb discovered during routine excavation in southern Türkiye
A Roman-era rock-cut tomb has been uncovered during an excavation carried out by municipal teams in the Kirikhan district of Hatay, Türkiye. Source: Türkiye Today
April 30, 2026
Int'l teams join excavations in SE Türkiye to uncover early settlements
Türkiye's Taş Tepeler initiative – a major archaeological project exploring some of the world’s oldest Neolithic settlements, including sites like Göbeklitepe – is expanding internationally as Japanese and Chinese archaeologists join new excavations in Şanlıurfa. Source: Daily Sabah
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