January 2021 brought to light the remains of the Aphrodite Temple in the Urla-Çeşme peninsula while a statuette of Asclepius and a bust of Serapis were unearthed in Kibyra. Moreover, memorial tombs of Seljuk sultans went under restoration in Konya and the sensational discovery was made in Diyarbakır where the graves of the Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan I and his daughter Saide Hatun were uncovered.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for January 2021. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
January 1, 2021
Findings in Anavarza excite archaeologists
The 2020 excavations in the ancient city of Anavarza, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List as it bears the cultural traces of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Sassanid and Ottoman periods, have been completed. New findings in the ancient city in the southern province of Adana’s Kozan district have caused excitement among the archaeologists. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
6,000-year-old spearheads found in Black Sea province
Two spearheads believed to be around 6,000 years old have been handed to the İpekyolu Museum in the Black Sea province of Trabzon, the city’s chamber of commerce and industry announced in a statement on Dec. 30. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 2, 2021
Renovation work for Basilica Cistern to start after official ruling
The Cultural Heritage Preservation Board has approved a structural strengthening plan for the Basilica Cistern presented by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality 66 days ago, according to daily Milliyet. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 3, 2021
Ruins of Aphrodite Temple found in Urla
A team of Turkish scientists and archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 2,500-year-old Aphrodite Temple in the Urla-Çeşme peninsula in Turkey’s west. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Newly discovered cisterns shed light on ancient residents of classical city Metropolis
Archaeological work at the classical city of Metropolis, also known as the city of “Mother Goddess” in modern-day Izmir province in western Turkey, has unearthed four previously unknown and interconnected cisterns. The cisterns, along with the remains of food, animal bones and pieces of ceramics found in the excavations, have shed new light on the eating habits of ancient residents of the city, located between the Yeniköy and Özbey neighborhoods of Torbalı district in Izmir. Source: Daily Sabah
January 4, 2021
Treasure hunters destroy historic chapel in Aegean town
A historical chapel, which is believed to be 250 years old, in the Aegean province of Balıkesir’s Ayvalık district, has been destroyed by treasure hunters who took advantage of measures implemented against the coronavirus outbreak. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Drought reveals the flooded historical bridge in Şarköy
The historical bridge, which could not be seen because it was flooded by the pond waters of Şarköy district of Tekirdağ, emerged when the water receded due to drought. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
January 5, 2021
Ordu Ethnographical Museum to display ancient masks, busts
More than 20 busts and masks, which were unearthed in the 2,300-year-old Ordu Kurul Castle and estimated to be 2,100 years old, will be exhibited at the Ordu Paşaoğlu Mansion and Ethnography Museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Memorial tombs of Anatolian Seljuk sultans under restoration
Restoration of Anatolian Seljuk sultans' sandukas, a type of memorial tomb placed over the original graves of the distinguished people in Turkish-Islamic tradition, in Alaeddin Mosque has begun in the central Turkish province of Konya. Source: Daily Sabah
January 6, 2021
Amida Mound reveals Diyarbakır’s history
Several artifacts have been unearthed in archaeological excavations carried out in Amida Mound in the historical Sur district, known widely as the heart of the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, becoming the latest trove of finds that will shed light on the history of Mesopotamia. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 7, 2021
Statuette of Asklepios, bust of Serapis found in Kibyra
A statue of the Ancient Greek god of health Asclepius and a bust of the god Serapis were found during the excavations in the ancient city of Kibyra in the Gölhisar district of the southern province of Burdur. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Original Ottoman motifs uncovered during restoration of 227-year-old mosque
Original hand-drawn Ottoman motifs and patterns depicting the empire’s culture have been uncovered in the Yusuf Ziya Pasha Mosque in the Keban district of eastern Turkey’s Elazığ province. The motifs are believed to have been concealed under a layer of plaster sometime after the mosque’s construction in 1794. They were discovered during restoration work by the Malatya Regional Directorate of Foundations. Source: Daily Sabah
Kemerdere Aqueduct, which carried water to Troy Ancient City, is being restored
Kemerdere Aqueduct, located near the village of Civler in the center of Çanakkale Province, was built in the Roman Period as a water source for Troy. The restoration project was prepared in order to preserve the historical building for the future generations. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
Egyptian Seal Found in the Ancient City in Tokat Province
The seal with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose III was found in Komana Pontika ancient city in Tokat Province. Source: Arkeofili
January 8, 2021
Troy's 3,500-year-old Kemerdere Aqueduct poised to boost tourism after restoration
The ancient city of Troy’s still-standing 3,500-year-old aqueduct is set to be restored in the village of Civler in western Turkey’s Çanakkale province. The historical structure, known as the Kemerdere Aqueduct, will be repaired and restored to its original state thanks to the work of the Çanakkale Special Provincial Administration and South Marmara Development Agency. Source: Daily Sabah
New findings uncovered at 8,000-year-old Amida mound in Turkey’s Diyarbakır
The latest archeological excavations at the historical site of Amida Mound in southeastern Turkey’s Diyarbakır province have revealed new findings that shed light on the history of the region. Professor Irfan Yıldız, head of the archeological team, believes with the help of new prehistoric discoveries, the mound will attract more visitors to the heart of Diyarbakır. Source: Daily Sabah
January 10, 2021
Restorations of historical houses continue in Osmaneli
Osmaneli Municipality started the restoration of registered houses in the district with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Bursa, Eskişehir, Bilecik Development Agency (BEBKA) a few years ago. Houses were built using adobe, stone, and wood. Those whose restorations have been completed serve as schools, hotels, youth centers, and workplaces. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
January 11, 2021
Visual shows in Turkey’s Ottoman town to present daily life of Phrygian period
Daily life of the Phrygian period will be brought to light via visual shows and animations in the Büyük Göztepe Tumulus in Safranbolu, a town in Turkey’s northern province of Karabük, which is famous for its Ottoman-era buildings that include frame houses, inns and Turkish bathhouses. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Nearly 200,000 visit Göbeklitepe amid pandemic
Around 200,000 people visited Turkey’s ancient site of Göbeklitepe, known as the world’s oldest temple, in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic, according to officials. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient statue and bust of Asclepius, Serapis unearthed in Burdur's Kibyra [[https://www.dailysabah.com/life/history/ancient-statue-and-bust-of-ascle...
Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Kibyra in the Gölhisar district of southwestern Turkey’s Burdur, have unearthed new exciting finds, including a statue of Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of health, and a bust of Serapis, an ancient Graeco-Egyptian deity. Source: Daily Sabah
January 12, 2021
Craftsman keeping tradition of repairing antique carpets alive
Ramazan Yumuşak is the last representative of a family who has been repairing antique carpets for three generations in Istanbul, which is noted as one of the well-known carpet and rug centers of the world. He wants to keep the tradition alive by passing his 36-year profession, which he started at the age of 11, to future generations. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Western Turkey's Historical Kula houses await restoration
After standing the test of time for centuries, Ottoman and Greek houses in the town of Kula in western Turkey's Manisa now face the danger of collapse. The historical houses now await restoration efforts by the authorities. Source: Daily Sabah
January 13, 2021
Filiz Çağman, famous Turkish historian, dies at 81
Turkish historian Filiz Çağman, one of the world’s leading experts on manuscripts and miniature art, died on Jan. 11 at the age of 81. Retired in 2005, Çağman worked for 41 years at Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace, one of the most famous landmarks of Istanbul that once housed Ottoman sultans while the city was the capital of the empire. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Some 310 buildings in Cappadocia pulled down in two years
Some 310 unauthorized buildings were demolished in the last two years in the historical site of Cappadocia, which is famous for cave dwellings and remarkable rock formation, the governor of the Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir said on Jan. 11. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Kılıç Arslan I’s grave found in SE Turkey
The graves of the Seljuk Sultan of Rum Kılıç Arslan I and his daughter Saide Hatun were uncovered in southeastern Diyarbakır province following a nine-day excavation. Source: Daily Sabah
January 15, 2021
Hotel-museum presents artifacts from 5 periods
The Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum, which has the museum-hotel concept and displays artifacts belonging to five different periods, has welcomed 22,500 visitors since its opening last year. The artifacts in the museum, which was opened in January last year on a closed area of 550 square meters, are from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Medieval and Islamic periods. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 19, 2021
Princess belt on display at İzmir museum
A 2,800-year-old bronze “princess belt,” which belongs to the Urartian culture, will be exhibited at the İzmir Archaeology Museum for a month. The İzmir Archeology Museum brings together 12 unique artifacts preserved in its warehouses within the scope of the “You Will See What You Don’t See” project. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Bodrum’s historical walls to serve tourism
The rescue excavation and cleaning works that were initiated to unearth the approximately 7.5-kilometer-long historical “Halicarnassus Walls” in the western province of Muğla’s Bodrum district have been ongoing without interruption. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 20, 2021
Assyrian castle in Turkey’s southeast eyes UNESCO’s World Heritage List
An official application has been made to include the Assyrian Castle and the King Tombs in the southeastern Anatolian province of Diyarbakır’s Eğil district to the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 21, 2021
Seven street fountains will be restored in Çorum
It has been reported that work has been initiated in Çorum to restore seven historical street fountains, which are considered to be from the early years of the Turkish Republic and the Ottoman Empire period. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
Dovecotes in Kayseri will be restored
The project prepared by Melikgazi Municipality for the restoration of 147 historical dovecotes in Kayseri's Gesi District, known for its song "Gesi Vineyards", was approved. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
Sarcophagus used on the wall of the house in Manisa to be moved to the museum
The ancient sarcophagus used on the wall of a house built in 1958 in the Kula district of Manisa will be dismantled and moved to the Manisa Museum. Source: Arkeofili
January 22, 2021
Fossils presumed to belong to mammoths found in Amasya Suluova
Bone fossils thought to belong to mammoths have been found in Suluova district of Amasya. The villagers, who excavated in Kerimoğlu village in the Suluova district of Amasya in search of water, informed the Amasya Museum Directorate when they found bones in the area. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
January 28, 2021
Roman silver coin collection found at Aizanoi
A rare collection of 651 silver coins belonging to the Roman period has been found in a jug during the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Aizanoi in the western province of Kütahya’s Çavdarhisar district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 30, 2021
Historic church set to welcome visitors as museum
St. Michael Church in a Black Sea coastal town in northeastern Turkey will become a museum that welcomes domestic and foreign tourists in 2021, according to officials. The historical building in Akçaabat town of Trabzon province has been restored and will be used in social and cultural activities by Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
