Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for November 2016. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
November 4, 2016
Ancient Smyrna to complete ring of history
Though separated by millennia of history, İzmir’s past will soon be symbolically linked with the opening of the ancient Smyrna excavation area to visits, allowing tourists to journey from Neolithic times to the relatively recent Classical past – stopping in ancient Smyrna along the way. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Excavations begin at Antalya's Lyrboton Kome
Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Lyrboton Kome, located in Antalya's Kepez district were launched yesterday in order to introduce the site to tourism. Source: Daily Sabah
November 7, 2016
Public buildings unearthed in Van’s old city
New findings have been obtained during excavations being carried out in the south of Van Fortress in the city of Van in southeast Turkey. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 9, 2016
Turkey's Ahlat to enter UNESCO list
The eastern province of Bitlis’s Ahlat district, home to 8,100 monumental tombstones which are on UNESCO’s tentative list, will enter the World Heritage list in 2017, according to Ahlat Mayor Mümtaz Çoban. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Pamukkale's ancient city of Hierapolis Turkey's most visited archaeological site
Turkey's museums and archaeological sites drew significant numbers of tourists in 2015, reaching 30 million, recent statistics from the Cultural Heritage and Museums General Directorate show. Source: Daily Sabah
November 10, 2016
Mesotimolos waits to be discovered
Mesotimolos, an ancient city from the Lydian civilization located close to the Aegean province of Uşak’s Düzköy district, awaits archaeological excavations for its discovery. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 11, 2016
Mummies of Anatolia still a matter of interest
Having been used by numerous civilizations to preserve the body after death, the technique of mummification was also practiced in Anatolia. Although different from the one in ancient Egypt, embalming was also performed on rulers in certain Anatolian civilizations. Source: Daily Sabah
November 14, 2016
Ancient mosaics comes to light in Turkey's Şanlıurfa
Five floor mosaics believed to date back 2,000 years have been unearthed during excavations in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 15, 2016
Anatolian natural history attracts worldwide attention
Vertebrate fossils found in the district of Kaman in Kırşehir province in central Turkey two years ago continue to draw the attention of world's leading scientists. Source: Daily Sabah
November 16, 2016
Research uncovers Lycian roads in Antalya monument
Under the light of the pillar of the Monument of the Roads, which is considered one of the world’s oldest road maps, showing roads built by the Roman Emperor Claudius in Lycia, 21 out of 63 roads have been so far been uncovered by archeologists. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient Claros in western Turkey becoming a center of faith tourism
New findings in excavations of ancient Greek city Claros, located in İzmir's Menderes, contribute to development of religious tourism. Source: Daily Sabah
2,500-year-old man-made cave found in northern Turkey
An estimated 2,500-year-old cave has been found near the Taşbaşı Church in the Altınordu district of Turkey's northern Ordu province located on the Black Sea coast. Source: Daily Sabah
November 17, 2016
World's oldest temple to be nominated for Heritage List
Turkey will nominate Göbeklitepe, branded the world's oldest temple, for the UNESCO World Heritage List. As a well-preserved site in southeastern Turkey, it will be the 16th inclusion from the country on the list, if admitted. Source: Daily Sabah
November 18, 2016
Archaeologists dig out pieces of ancient Anatolian city-state of Melid
The first established city-state in Anatolia, Melid, continues to shed light on ancient Anatolian history with its adobe palace, ancient relics, including swords and spears, and a temple erected 5,500 years ago. Source: Daily Sabah
Old Christian center to be unearthed in Turkey’s south
Works have been initiated by Istanbul University in the ancient field of Aya Tekla, one of the oldest centers of Christianity. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 19, 2016
Sunken minaret to be new tourist spot in Turkey’s Black Sea region
The "sunken minaret" and the lake view around it, located in the district of Bafra in Turkey's northern Samsun province, will soon become a tourist spot. Source: Daily Sabah
2,200 year-old Paphlogonian burial chamber discovered in Turkey
Archaeologists in Turkey's northern Kastamonu province have discovered a 2,200-year-old ancient burial chamber belonging to the Paphlagonian era, the first of its kind found in the area. Source: Daily Sabah
Ancient illuminated street to be unearthed
Herod Caddesi - Kurtuluş Street in Antakya in the southern Turkish province of Hatay, a kind of shopping center for the rich in the ancient era known as the “world’s first illuminated” street, is set to come back to life nine-meters underground. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 20, 2016
Turkish family protects historic Greek church from treasure hunters
A Greek church with a history dating back to the mid-1800s in northern Turkey's Giresun province has been guarded by a local Turkish family for years, preserving it from treasure hunters and physical wearing. Source: Daily Sabah
November 22, 2016
Ancient cistern found under barn in Turkey's Mardin
Excavations in the southeastern province of Mardin’s ancient city of Dara have unearthed a 6th century cistern. The Roman-era cistern was found in a field used as a barn. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Court declares Hagia Sophia a 'monument museum'
After a petition was filed by citizens from the Association of Permanent Foundations and Service to Historical Artifacts and the Environment with Ankara's 7th Administrative Court regarding the right to worship at Hagia Sophia - a former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica and imperial mosque that later became a museum - an appeal filed with the Council of State was also rejected in a landmark decision. Source: Daily Sabah
House in Arapgir a bridge to the past
Various objects, from old agricultural tools, to kitchenware, gas lamps, weaving looms, a chest, jars and pots are on display at an exhibition house in Malatya's Arapgir district to introduce the past to future generations. Source: Daily Sabah
Burial chamber discovered in Turkey’s Kastamonu
A burial chamber has been unearthed in the Kayı village of the Daday district in the northern Turkish province of Kastamonu. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Fossils dating around 40 million years found in Turkey’s moorland
Shelled and non-shelled molluscs, limpets, asterioidae, mussels and echinodermata fossils have been found during excavations in the small village of Karakuyu, located in Mucur district of Kırşehir province in central Turkey. Source: Daily Sabah
November 23, 2016
Arslantepe, cradle of civilizations in Anatolia
Reflecting the rich culture of Anatolia, the Arslantepe Mound in the eastern province of Malatya is shedding light on history thanks to its adobe palace with colorful figures on its walls, a 5,500-year-old temple and many artifacts such as ancient swords and spears. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
2,400 year-old burial chamber, 103 artifacts unearthed in Turkey
Turkish archaeologists have discovered a new ancient burial chamber from the Hellenistic Period, containing over 100 hundred pieces of artifacts in south-western Muğla province, reports said on Wednesday. Source: Daily Sabah
November 24, 2016
Family that became part of Claros's history with three generations of service
An ancient center of prophecy located in İzmir, the city of Claros has been guarded by members of the Çelik family since the 1950s. Source: Daily Sabah
With e-museum project Turkey's cultural wonders just a click away
Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry will expand the "Virtual Museum" project for a total of 376 museum and archaeological sites in 73 provinces. Source: Daily Sabah
881-year-old historic hammam to be restored in Kayseri
A 881-year-old historic hammam in the city of Kayseri in central Anatolia is to be restored and opened to visitors. Source: Daily Sabah
November 26, 2016
Ancient Christian pilgrimage site comes to light in northern Turkey
Excavation works in an ancient Christian pilgrimage site in northern Turkey dating back to 1st century B.C. have been resumed after two years. Source: Daily Sabah
November 27, 2016
Zeugma Museum in virtual environment
Zeugma in the southeastern province of Gaziantep is now being promoted to the world with a virtual tour on the website www.zeugma.org.tr. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 29, 2016
Perge sculptures open to visitors in Antalya
An opening ceremony of 12 sculptures that were unearthed during excavations in the ancient city of Perge in the southern province of Antalya was held on Nov. 25 at the Antalya Archaeology Museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 30, 2016
Ancient fossils to be displayed in Cappadocia
Fossil vertebrates of an elephant, rhino, giraffe, antelope, pig, hyena and primate that were found in the Central Anatolian province of Kırşehir’s Kaman district will be displayed to visitors in a new museum set to open in the Cappadocia region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
