The most important archaeological discoveries announced in June 2023 from the area of Turkey included a Pan statue from the Roman period that was recovered during excavation works carried out at Saraçhane Archaeology Park, where the Church of St. Polyeuctus is situated. In ancient Greek mythology, Pan was the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, rustic music, and companion of the nymphs. He was imagined to have the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, in the same manner as a faun.
Moreover, massive structures were found beneath Zerzevan Castle, which served as a Roman garrison for centuries, and was located in south-eastern Diyarbakır Province. Zerzevan Castle was built in the 4th century by the Eastern Roman Empire as a military base on the ancient trade route. It was in use until 639 with the arrival of Arab Muslims at the beginning of the Arab–Byzantine wars.
Finally, the excavation works led by a Japanese archaeologist in Turkey's central Kırıkkale Province revealed new findings indicating the suggestion that Büklükale village was the first settlement of the Cimmerians, an ancient equestrian nomadic people, in Anatolia. The Cimmerians were an ancient Eastern Iranic nomads originating in the Caspian steppe, part of whom subsequently migrated into West Asia. They did not leave any written records, and most information about them is derived from Assyrian records of the 8th to 7th centuries BCE.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for June 2023. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
June 1, 2023
God Pan statue unearthed at Istanbul’s historical church of St. Polyeuctus
A Pan statue thought to belong to the Roman period was recovered during excavation works carried out by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) teams at Saraçhane Archaeology Park, where the Church of St. Polyeuctus is located. Source: Arkeonews
June 5, 2023
Ancient Roman garrison unearthed at Zerzevan Castle in Türkiye
Massive structures have been discovered beneath Zerzevan Castle, which served as a Roman garrison for centuries, located in Diyarbakır. These structures were detected using ground-penetrating radar. Source: Daily Sabah
June 6, 2023
Batman Museum reveals extraordinary artifacts in whirlwind of history
At Batman Museum, as one passes through the street gate into a courtyard bordering the exhibition garden, the first thing to notice is the huge honey-colored sandstone wall of the museum itself with a square embossed with the name of the Prophet Muhammad on its four sides in a beautifully sharp geometric script, as was perfected in the nearby site of Hasankeyf; indeed, it perhaps originated there. Source: Daily Sabah
Kurgan stela discovered 3 years ago to be displayed in Türkiye's Erzurum Museum
A stone stela estimated to date back 2,500 years is now being displayed in Erzurum Museum after it was discovered in the eastern Turkish province of Erzurum three years ago. Source: Daily Sabah
June 19, 2023
History of 8,500 years waits for a museum
The conservation process of the Yenikapı shipwrecks, discovered during the Marmaray project and considered the world’s largest collection of ancient ships, has stopped due to the lack of a museum or a warehouse, says the head of the Yenikapı Shipwrecks Excavation and Conservation Project. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Japanese archaeologist reveal 1st settlement of Cimmerians in Anatolia
Recent excavation works led by a Japanese archaeologist in Türkiye's central Kırıkkale province have revealed new findings indicating that Büklükale village was the first settlement of the Cimmerians, an ancient equestrian nomadic people, in Anatolia. Source: Daily Sabah
June 20, 2023
Türkiye’s underwater archaeological map underway
Turkish scientist Professor Cemal Pulak announced at a recent symposium that works have been carried out to make Türkiye’s underwater archaeological map and said the information cannot be shared openly due to the risk of looting. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Exhibition invites to explore geography of human history
Pera Museum is hosting the exhibition “A New Story” by Isabel Muñoz, an artist who explores the nature, aesthetics and lifestyles of different cultures and reflects them through her photographs. The artist focuses on Göbeklitepe this time, one of Türkiye’s most important archaeological sites, and the Stone Hills in the region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 24, 2023
Sinop’s mosaics belong to dining room of wealthy family
The Hellenistic-era pebble mosaics found during the archaeological excavations in the Balatlar Building Complex in the northern province of Sinop have been revealed to belong to the “dining room of a wealthy family.” Source: Hürriyet Daily News
June 26, 2023
The 2,700-year-old rock tombs in the northern province of Kastamonu’s Taşköprü district, which are unique in Türkiye, are disappearing due to neglect. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
