Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for March 2016. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
March 1, 2016
Istanbul seeks UNESCO listing for submerged Vordonisi Island
Joint study is being carried out by three universities and the Maltepe Municipality to research Istanbul's submerged Vordonisi Island, which seeks UNESCO status as a world heritage site. Source: Daily Sabah
Turtles May Have Been Feasted On as Part of Funeral Rites at Ancient Turkey Site
During excavations at Kavuşan Höyük, six miles from the modern town of Bismil in Turkey, archaeologists discovered a mysterious burial. Apart from human remains, the grave includes several previously slaughtered and butchered turtles. Source: Ancient Origins
March 3, 2016
Ottoman trove cleaned with q-tips
The Beçin treasure trove, which was discovered in 2000 during excavations in Beçin, located in the Milas district of the western Muğla province, was first weighed on grocery scales while each coin was cleaned with q-tips. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Iron Age artifacts found in Pamukkale
During the construction of an information center in the ancient city of Hierapolis, situated in the province of western Denizli’s Pamukkale district, 11 furnaces and pots from the 7th century B.C. have been discovered. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 4, 2016
Ancient underground city in İzmit excites archaeology world
Work to unearth the remains of an ancient city, discovered in northwestern Turkey during the removal of debris after the massive Marmara earthquake of August 1999, are due to begin in April. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Fethiye’s ancient tombs cleaned up
The 2,400 year-old tombs surrounded by garbage and weeds in the ancient city of Telmessos in the touristic southwestern province of Muğla’s Fethiye district have been cleaned up after negative reactions. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 9, 2016
Direkli Inn draws world academics
Kahramanmaraş’s Direkli Inn, which is home 2.5 million year-old animal remains and other artifacts, draws international academics who want to do studies there. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 12, 2016
Quarry workers ‘erasing history’ in Antalya with soap, sponge
At an annual conference organized by the Antalya Chamber of Industrialists and Businessmen, archaeologist Professor Havva İşkan Işık said stone quarries have been given permission to mine Mount Latmos and workers are trying to erase historical paintings dating back 6,000 years in order to facilitate mining. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Castle-like structure discovered on hill in Van
Officials were informed about the existence of a historic castle-like structure in a field in eastern Van when a local showed them photos of the structure, which may be from the Middle Ages. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 15, 2016
Scholars to explore secrets of Roman city
The Roman Empire’s military headquarters, the ancient city of Satala in Kelkit, will be unearthed. Academics have applied to start a surface survey. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeopark field abandoned in İzmir
An archeopark field in İzmir’s Altınpark neighborhood, which was designed by the Konak Municipality in 2000, has been abandoned. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 16, 2016
Experts volunteer to save non-Muslim heritage in Turkey
Around 140 at-risk churches, schools, synagogues and monasteries across Turkey are being cataloged by an international team. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 20, 2016
Human skull, bones found in historic church in Turkey's west
Excavations in the garden of a 19th-century Greek church in the western province of Muğla’s Datça district have unearthed a grave, human skull and pieces of bone. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 22, 2016
Ancient temple receives protection in western Turkey
Environmental campaigners are celebrating after an ancient temple on Mount Beşparmak in western Turkey was taken under protection, while noting that more needs to be done to save the area as a whole. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
World’s most expensive plate seized in Turkey
A very old and valuable plate has been seized during an operation by the Balıkesir Provincial gendarmerie command in the northwestern province’s Bandırma district. The plate depicts the spring festivities of the Persian King. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 25, 2016
Northwestern city sheds light on Thracian mystery
A large number of artifacts from the Thracian civilization have been unearthed during archaeological excavations which have been continuing for 16 years in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Restoration of church in Laodicea wins EU prize for cultural heritage
Denizli Mayor Osman Zolan has told reporters that the restoration currently being conducted in the ancient city of Laodicea was awarded the European Union Cultural Heritage Jury's special award. Source: Daily Sabah
March 28, 2016
Locals hope Jesus Christ frescoes will attract tourists in Turkey's west
Ancient frescoes of Jesus Christ and a number of saints, as well as rock graves around them, will serve tourism within the scope of a new geopark project in the southwestern province of Muğla’s Yatağan district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 29, 2016
Holy Lagina becomes popular with tourists
The holy field of Lagina, an ancient place of worship for pagans in the western province of Muğla’s Yatağan, has been visited by 70,000 people in six months. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
A 2,000-year-old tomb from the late Roman era serves as a fountain in the village of Çakırköy in the western province Afyonkarahisar. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 30, 2016
Historical frescoes in rock graves to be opened to tourists
The historical frescoes of Jesus Christ and Christian saints as well as nearby sepulchers in Yatağan, which is located in the district of Yava in the province of Muğla, will be opened to tourists as part of the Jeopark Project framework. Source: Daily Sabah
