In May 2023, some 400 shops started to operate in the historical Uzun Çarşı, one of the symbols of the quake-hit southern province of Hatay. The archaeological excavations were carried out around the country, for instance in the southern province of Osmaniye's Kadirli district, where the mosaic depicting the Trojan War hero Aeneas was found in the ruins of a Roman villa. The excavations also began to unearth 2,600-year-old archaeological remains on the Sedir (Cleopatra) island in the Gulf of Gökova.
Moreover, the excavations were conducted for the first time in the ancient city of Mobolla, located in the Menteşe district of the western province of Muğla. In Istanbul, during the ongoing excavations in the ruins of Saint Polyeuktos Church, a 1,500-year-old underground passage has been discovered.
New cultural venues were opened in Turkey last month, too. The new building and exhibitions of Istanbul Modern, Turkey's first modern and contemporary art museum, was opened on May 4. The Culture and Tourism Ministry also restored the 140-year Alsancak Tekel (Monopoly) Factory in Izmir and transformed it into the Izmir Culture and Art Factory. Finally, within the scope of the "City of Museums" project, the Kuşadası Municipality is establishing a museum in the Güvercinada Castle and Historical Caravanserai.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for May 2023. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
May 1, 2023
Italy returns ancient stele, illegally exported, to Türkiye
Italy on Friday returned to Turkish authorities a funerary stele, dating from the second century and carrying a loving inscription to the dead woman’s spouse, after investigation determined that it was illegally excavated from southeastern Türkiye. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 2, 2023
The residents of Mursallı neighborhood in the Germencik district of the western province of Aydın want the two-century-old Taxiarkhea (Archangel) Church to be restored and transformed into a Museum of Exchange. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 4, 2023
Traces of ancient life come to surface in Mobolla
Excavations have been conducted for the first time in the ancient city of Mobolla, one of the most important settlements of antiquity. Located in the Menteşe district of the western province of Muğla, from the fifth century, the ancient city bears the traces of the traditional Anatolian settlement model from 4,500 years ago. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 5, 2023
Istanbul Modern opens new museum building
The new building and exhibitions of Istanbul Modern, Türkiye’s first modern and contemporary art museum, has opened on May 4. The official opening ceremony of the museum will be held later. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 8, 2023
Restoration at Muğla's ancient 'city of gladiators' continues
The restoration of the "city of gladiators," Stratonicea, located in the Yatağan district of Muğla, has been ongoing for some time, and the latest addition to the ancient site has been a new series of seating steps at the 2,200-year-old council building. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 9, 2023
Number of reopened Uzun Çarşı shops increase to 400
Some 400 shops have started to operate in the historical Uzun Çarşı, one of the symbols of the quake-hit southern province of Hatay, within the scope of efforts to return to normal life. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 10, 2023
Zerzevan Castle, Mithas Sanctuary ready for UNESCO
Preparations are underway for the 3,000-year-old Zerzevan Castle, which was the last garrison of the Roman Empire in the east in the Çınar district of the eastern province of Diyarbakır, to enter the UNESCO World Heritage list. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 12, 2023
Mosaic of Trojan War hero found in Osmaniye
The mosaic of Trojan War hero Aeneas has been found in the ruins of a Roman villa, unearthed during the foundation of a construction in the southern province of Osmaniye’s Kadirli district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 13, 2023
Culture and Art Factory new venue in İzmir
The Culture and Tourism Ministry has restored the 140-year Alsancak Tekel (Monopoly) Factory in İzmir and transformed it into the İzmir Culture and Art Factory, which has recently become one of the popular destinations for residents. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 15, 2023
1,500-year-old secret underground passage uncovered in Istanbul
During the ongoing excavations in the ruins of Saint Polyeuktos Church in Istanbul’s Saraçhane neighborhood, which was destroyed during the Latin invasion, a 1,500-year-old underground passage has been discovered. Source: Arkeonews
May 22, 2023
Researchers to examine source of artifacts smuggled from Türkiye
With a project initiated by state museums in Berlin for the return of smuggled historical artifacts, a team of Turkish and German historians will examine the source of the objects found at the archaeological sites in Zincirlihöyük, Didim and Samarra. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 24, 2023
New museums to open in Kuşadası
Within the scope of the “City of Museums” project, the Kuşadası Municipality is establishing a museum in the Güvercinada Castle and Historical Caravanserai, the symbols of the city, and signed cooperation protocols with Türkiye’s important collectors. Also, a cultural house and three new museums will host visitors in a short time. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 30, 2023
Excavations start on popular Sedir Island
Excavations have begun to unearth 2,600-year-old archaeological remains on the Sedir (Cleopatra) island in the Gulf of Gökova, which is one of the most important blue voyage destinations. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
