In June 2019, the Blachernae Palace Complex restoration was completed, and the venue welcomed the first visitors. Among them were the members of the Turkish Archaeological News team, who visited Istanbul just at that time. Our verdict on the outcome of the renovation? Very impressive results, but there are several improvements needed, including the clean-up of the surroundings.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for June 2019. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
June 2, 2019
2,300-year-old tablet discovered in school wall in southern Turkey
A 2,300-year-old tablet was accidentally discovered inside the garden wall of a school in Turkey's southwestern Muğla province during road construction works, reports said Sunday. Source: Daily Sabah
June 6, 2019
The mosaics in the ancient city of Xanthos in the southern province of Antalya’s Kaş district, are now unprotected. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 7, 2019
Historic religious site in Turkey's Mardin to be welcomed by UNESCO
In the Nusaybin district of Mardin province, a site of great importance for Islam and Christianity that brings together two sacred places in the same courtyard is in the final stage of restoration initiated for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Source: Daily Sabah
June 8, 2019
Mysterious flooding leads to discovery of 5,000-year-old underground city in Turkey’s Cappadocia
A underground city partly submerged underwater and estimated to be around 5,000 years old was discovered by municipality crews trying to determine the cause of flooding in several houses in the Avanos district of Turkey's central Nevşehir province, located at the heart of the historic Cappadocia region. Source: Daily Sabah
June 11, 2019
In the 800-year-old Alaaddin Mosque built in Seljuk style in the southern province of Antalya’s Korkuteli district, the restoration of the crown gate has been finished. The ancient gate, which was rebuilt from scratch with new stone, is now “brand new.” Many of the decorations and motifs of the historical gate, which are considered as masterpieces, are now missing. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 12, 2019
Stanford archaeologist Ian Hodder honored by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has honored Stanford anthropologist Ian Hodder for his work in archaeology and his contribution to the relations between the United Kingdom and Turkey. Source: Stanford News
June 13, 2019
Roman tradition of boats to resume in ancient city
In Roman times, boats used to float along the Penkalas stream through the ancient city of Aizanoi, a historical attraction in the western province of Kütahya’s Çavdarhisar district which is called Turkey’s “second Ephesus.” Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 14, 2019
Restored Byzantium-era palace to serve as museum in Istanbul
Restoration on a Byzantium-era palace located in Istanbul which is the only remaining part of the Blachernae Palace Complex was completed and the palace will start serving as museum starting from Monday. Source: Daily Sabah
Bulgaria returns smuggled historical artifacts to Turkey
Within the scope of the fight against cultural property smuggling, Bulgaria returned to Turkey 56 coins and drachmas, along with six bronze sconces and a bronze fibula from various periods, with a ceremony on June 14 at the Sofia Archaeology Museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 15, 2019
First coffee museum of Turkey opens
Turkey’s first coffee museum, opened by three coffee experts in the northern province of Karabük’s Safranbolu district — a UNESCO World Heritage site — to pass the 500-year-old coffee culture of Anatolia on to future generations, takes visitors on a historical journey. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 18, 2019
Bronze coins shed light on Parion’s history
During the excavations in the ancient city of Parion - the port city of the Roman Empire 2,700 years ago - 466 bronze coins have been found. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
700-year-old mosque unearthed, restored in southern Turkey’s Antalya
A 700-year-old mosque has been restored in southern Turkey's Antalya province after excavations unearthed the pieces of the structure dating back to the Anatolian beyliks' rule in the region. Source: Daily Sabah
Murder in Mesopotamia, the Prequel: The Earliest Neighbors in the World Couldn’t Stand Each Other
Crowding in one of the world's first towns, Catalhoyuk, spread disease and stress, judging by the violence archaeologists detect in their remains. Source: Haaretz
June 19, 2019
Troy Museuma candidate for European Museum of the Year Award
Troy Museum, located at the entrance to the ancient city of Troy in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, is now a candidate for the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) for 2020 by the European Museum Forum (EMF). Source: Hürriyet Daily News
The Ancient City of Karkamış — the most important administration center for the Hittite Empire in the region — will soon be opened to visitors as an archeopark in the southeastern Turkish province of Gaziantep it is located in. Source: Daily Sabah
June 20, 2019
Bozcaada reunites with its millennial windmills
Bozcaada, one of the most popular tourism destinations in the northern Aegean, reunites with its millennial silhouette with the renovation of its historic windmills on its northern and southern sides of the island. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Hittites city to become open-air museum
An ancient city on the Turkey-Syria border, which was the most significant administration center of the Hittites who ruled over Anatolia and Mesopotamia for centuries, is gearing up to open for visitors. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 21, 2019
Road leading to Anatolia’s largest ancient stadium soon to be unearthed
An ancient road that leads to the largest ancient stadium in Anatolia, which can accommodate nearly 30,000 people, will soon be unearthed thanks to the excavations in the Laodikeia Ancient City in western Turkey's Denizli province, the head of the excavation team said Friday. Source: Daily Sabah
Maps showcasing Ottoman-era Thrace on display in northwest Turkey
An Ottoman-era map collection displaying the region of southeastern Europe known as Thrace has been put on display in an exhibition in northwestern Turkey's Edirne province, attracting local and foreign visitors and historians. Source: Daily Sabah
June 22, 2019
History, tourism mingled in Parion
Witnessing almost 3,000 years ago, an ancient coastal town in Turkey's Aegean harbors a huge tourism potential with visitors in large numbers. As the summer sun has uncovered itself in Turkey, the Parion coastal town in the western Çanakkale province attracts scores of domestic and foreign tourists. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 26, 2019
Historic road to ancient stadium comes to light
The street that provides access to Anatolia’s largest ancient stadium, the Laodicea Stadium, is being unearthed. The stadium is located next to the ancient city of Laodicea and has a capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 people. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 27, 2019
Ancient history waits to be uncovered in Düzce
Excavations in the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium in the northwestern province of Düzce and at an eighth century Genoese Castle on the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List are expected to unravel more of the history of the region and attract tourists. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
