January was a rather quiet month for the archaeologists in Turkey. Some interesting discoveries were made, such as ancient baby bottles dating back to 2500 BCE found during excavations at Norik Mound in eastern Bingöl province or an intricate stone floor that indicates that Usakli Hoyuk may have been the lost Hittite city of Zippalanda. The real bomb was only dropped at the end of the month when an amazing find was published: a Polish researcher discovered a human-like figurine in one of the oldest cities in the world, Çatalhöyük in Turkey. This is the first such object made of bone known from this place.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for January 2020. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
January 2, 2020
Stones of an ancient road reassembled like a puzzle
A historic road to the ancient city of Neonteikhos in the Aegean province of İzmir, which intersects with a motorway, was removed during the construction of an overpass bridge that was built for its protection, and now the removed stones have been reassembled as a puzzle. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 5, 2020
First African in Istanbul found near Lake Küçükçekmece
A 1,000-year-old skull and various bones thought to belong to an African person have been found at the excavations at the ancient city of Bathonea near Lake Küçükçekmece in Istanbul. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 13, 2020
Ancient gymnasium to become open-air museum in Turkey’s İzmir
The 1800-year-old gymnasium unearthed in the western province of İzmir during construction works will be converted into an open-air museum. The remains of the historical artifacts were discovered in 2016 when a firm demolished a 120-year-old business center in the Konak district in a bid to replace it with a newer center. Following the discovery, the construction was immediately stopped. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Rare 4,500-year-old baby bottles discovered in Bingöl, eastern Turkey
Archaeologists have discovered ancient baby bottles dating back to 2500 B.C. during excavations at Norik Mound in Turkey's eastern Bingöl province. Source: Daily Sabah
January 15, 2020
200 Ottoman tombstones to be exhibited in ancient city of Parion
Historical tombstones spanning hundreds of years of history will soon go on display in the ancient seaport city of Parion, which is located in modern day Biga in western Çanakkale province. Some 200 tombstones from the Ottoman era alone are expected to be featured at the exhibition. Source: Daily Sabah
January 16, 2020
Excavations in Black Sea’s Zeugma to continue all year round
Excavation works in the ancient city of Hadrianapolis, in the Black Sea province of Karabük, will continue throughout 2020, the Karabük governor has said. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Historic Virgin Mary Church reopens as library
The century-old Virgin March Church in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri has been turned into a library by the municipality after its restoration works have been completed. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 17, 2020
Historical tombs found in stadium field in Denizli
Survey excavations that have been carried out in a field for the construction of a stadium have unearthed 2,000-year-old burials. The area in the western province of Denizli was declared a first-degree excavations area, while another place will be searched for the stadium, the Denizli Metropolitan Municipality announced. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Excavations resume at Black Sea region's Ephesus
Excavations at the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium, deemed the "Ephesus of the Western Black Sea region," have officially resumed in the northwestern Turkish province of Düzce. Source: Daily Sabah
January 22, 2020
Historic port city viewed from sky
The archaeological excavations initiated in Istanbul district of Kadıköy’s Haydarpaşa Railway Station about two years ago are continuing. Numerous historical buildings, coins and skeletons in the giant port city under the rails shed light on Istanbul’s Anatolian history. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Record number of tourists visit Turkish mosaic museum
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the world’s largest mosaic museums, in Turkey’s southeast attracted a record number of visitors with 340,569 people in 2019, according to official data. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
100-year-old newspaper fragments found inside wall of Dolmabahçe Palace
Workers involved in ongoing restoration work at Istanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace on Wednesday made a historical find, retrieving the pages of various newspapers dating back to the 1910s from inside the wall plaster. Source: Daily Sabah
January 23, 2020
Earliest Mosaic in the World Found in Turkey
Intricate stone floor by a possible temple and cuneiform texts indicate that Usakli Hoyuk may have been the lost Hittite city of Zippalanda, suggests archaeologist Anacleto D’Agostino. Source: Haaretz
January 27, 2020
Low tide reveals ancient port in north Aegean town
The remains of a 2,500-year-old ancient port were revealed for the first time in a generation due to a low tide in Turkey’s northern Aegean town of Ören. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 29, 2020
Museum sheds light on Thracian civilization
Artifacts unearthed during excavations in ancient cities in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ and exhibited in the Tekirdağ Museum shed light on the Thracian civilization. The Thracian people, who lived in Thrace, Bulgaria and northern Greece in the ancient ages, were known as the world’s most populous tribe after Hindus, according to Greek historian and ancient writer Heredot. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 30, 2020
Unique Bone Figurine Discovered in One of World`s Oldest Cities
Polish researcher discovered a human-like figurine in one of the oldest cities in the world: Çatalhöyük in Turkey. This is the first such object made of bone known from this place. The find is about 8 thousand years old. Source: Science in Poland
