Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for September 2015. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
Sept 1, 2015
Settlement in Yassıhöyük could date back to 6,000 B.C., say archaeologists
Excavation work at Ovaören village in Central Anatolian Nevşehir province has brought to light a settlement in ancient Yassıhöyük dating back to 1,700 B.C. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
PKK attacks discourage visitors to museum
A rise in PKK terrorist attacks in southeastern Turkey has been linked to a significant drop in visitors to the Haleplibahçe Museum in Şanlıurfa. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 2, 2015
Excavation season begins at ancient site of Elaiussa Sebaste
The 21th round of excavation works at ancient site of Elaiussa Sebaste located in Turkey's southeastern province of Mersin will start on Sep. 8 and be completed by Sep. 20. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Excavations begin anew in ‘pirate city’
Once a hub for pirate activity, the ancient city of Antiocheia Ad Cragnum in Antalya’s Gazipaşa district is now undergoing renewed excavations that is shedding new light on the history of the area. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Six century old bridge in western Turkey collapses during restoration
589 year-old Dandalaz Bridge located in Turkey's Karacasu district of the western Aydın province collapsed during restoration. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 4, 2015
Roman Christians’ first church found in Diyarbakır, southeast Turkey
Excavations at the ancient Roman military outpost of Zerzevan Castle in the Çınar district of Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır have uncovered a chapel belonging to the very first Romans who converted to Christianity. Source: BGNNews
Stone beads may give clues about early Anatolian history
Stone beads that have been discovered during excavations supervised by Assistant Professor Cevdet Merih Erek of Gazi University in Direkli Cave in Kahramanmaraş will shed light on the migration routes and movements of ancient Anatolian people. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 6, 2015
Project aims to restore 9 historical synagogues in İzmir
The Kiriaty Foundation prepared a master plan for the restoration of nine synagogues in İzmir's Kemeraltı area and plans to convert these historical buildings into a Jewish Culture Museum to contribute to Turkey's religious tourism. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 7, 2015
2,800-year-old Urartu storage jars discovered in eastern Turkey
Archeologists working in Turkey’s eastern province of Van have uncovered 2,800-year-old pithos, or large ceramic storage containers, that once contained grain, oil and wine in the ruins of Çavuştepe Castle built by Urartu King Sarduri II. Source: BGNNews
Sept 8, 2015
Tourists flock to 3,000-year-old underground city in Bayburt
Foreign and domestic tourists are continuing to flock to the famed “Underground City” claimed to be around 3,000 years old in the southeastern province of Bayburt. The ancient figures on the walls, in particular, draw great attention from visitors. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeological team prepares 4,000-year-old Hittite meals
An archaeological team excavating the ancient site of Alacahöyük, one of the most significant centers of the ancient Hittite civilization, cooked pastries belonging to Hittite cuisine that dates back 4,000 years. The foods found on Hittite tablets were cooked without modern technology or equipment. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 9, 2015
Hittite women’s hair tie discovered
Excavations that have been continuing in Alacahöyük, one of the centers of Hittite civilization and considered Turkey’s first “national excavation field,” have unearthed nearly 3,700-year-old hair ties and jewelry made of animal horns. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeologists find 2,000 year-old brazier off Aegean coast
Archaeologists have recently discovered a brazier (a portable oven) on a 2,000-year-old ship during underwater excavations carried out in the ancient city of Knidos. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 12, 2015
Ancient sea route discovered in Mersin
Archaeological work carried out off the coast of Silifke in Mersin has unearthed an ancient sea route in the Mediterranean. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sept 14, 2015
New excavations studying life in Anatolia 7,000 years ago
An archological team excavating a tumulus of the Van Castle revealed new information about the social life and architecture of the region from 7,000 years ago. The team members also focus on findings belong to ancient Urartian civilizations and the Ottomans. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 15, 2015
Provincial assembly meeting held in ancient site
The first provincial assembly September meeting in the western province of Aydın was held in the ancient site of Nysa in the historical Caria region, where assemblies of elders gathered 1,800 years ago. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sept 16, 2015
Kalehöyük home to traces of five civilizations
Remains from the Ottoman, Seljuk, Roman, Byzantine and Hellenistic civilizations have been unearthed from 11 meters underground during three years of excavations in the Central Anatolian province of Kırşehir’s Kalehöyük mound. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Support for excavations on the rise
Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry’s support for archaeological excavations, which was 1,877,915 Turkish Liras in 2002, increased by 17 fold this year. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sept 17, 2015
Excavations at Myra show ancient hairstyles same as today’s
Findings obtained during the Myra archaeological excavations carried out by Mediterranean University revealed Lycian women hairstyles 2,400 years ago were the same as today. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Study: Women hairstyles were more extraordinary in ancient times
An archaeological team examining archaeological findings discovered ancient hairstyles. Reliefs found on rock tombs reveal the extravagant braided hairstyles of women living 2,400 years ago, which by today's standards might be considered strange. Professor Nevzat Çelik of Akdeniz University Archaeology Department said it is possible to understand the lifestyle of people living during this time by examining ancient buildings and artifacts found in Lycian tombs. Source: Daily Sabah
Byzantine-era ruins unearthed on Black Sea island
Excavations have revealed Byzantine-era structures on Giresun Island, located 1.2 kilometers off Turkey's Black Sea coast. While a chapel, jars, coins and many other artifacts have been unearthed, archaeologists hope to find Roman ruins in lower layers. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 18, 2015
Excavations shed light on Anatolian history
Continuing excavations in the Pisidia Antiocheia ancient city in the southern province of Isparta’s Yalvaç district have unearthed a 1,800-year-old relief that will shed light on daily life in the city. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Hidden tunnel in Tokat Castle to open soon
Work is continuing to open a previously hidden tunnel that was discovered during the restoration of Tokat Castle, known as the dungeon of Dracula. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
5,000-Year-Old Throne Found in Turkey
The remains of a 5,000-year-old adobe basament of a possible “throne” have been unearthed during excavations in Turkey, revealing the origins of the secularization of power and one of the first evidence of the birth of the state system. Source: Discovery News
Sept 21, 2015
Riddle of the Ages Solved: Where Did the Philistines Come From?
Anomalous discoveries in southern Turkey now explained: The Philistine 'Sea Peoples' didn't invade Kunulua, they lived there. Source: Haaretz
Sept 22, 2015
Ottoman ceramics found at Santa Claus site in Antalya
Ottoman-era ceramics have been discovered during excavations at the Noel Baba (Santa Claus) Museum excavations in the southern province of Antalya’s Demre district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sept 23, 2015
Charting John Garstang’s ‘footsteps across Anatolia’
A new exhibition at the Koç University’s Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations aims to highlight the international impact of renowned British archaeologist John Garstang on the study of archaeology in Turkey and the Near East. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
What was behind the legendary story of King Midas and his golden touch? That is the question that will be answered—not with chests full of gold, but with a spectacular array of specially-loaned ancient artifacts from the Republic of Turkey, keys to telling the true story of a very real, very powerful ruler of the Phrygian kingdom in what is now central Turkey. The Golden Age of King Midas, an exclusive, world premiere exhibition developed by the Penn Museum, 3260 South Street in Philadelphia, in partnership with the Republic of Turkey, runs February 13 through November 27, 2016. Source: Popular Archaeology
Sept 24, 2015
Giant amphoras unearthed in Kültepe
Three massive, mysterious amphoras have been unearthed during excavations in the Kaniş-Kültepe-Karum archaeological field in Kayseri. While still unsure as to their use, experts say it be difficult to produce the amphoras, even with today’s technology. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Switzerland to return ancient 2nd-century Hercules sarcophagus from Antalya
The Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it will return to Turkey a Roman-era marble sarcophagus depicting the 12 labors of Hercules that was seized by Swiss customs officials in 2010. Source: BGNNews
Sept 25, 2015
Thousands of heritage artifacts restored in 13 years
Historical artifacts in Turkey and abroad have survived thanks to the efforts of the General Directorate of Foundations. Nearly 4,000 structures have been restored in 13 years, says the general director. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Roman King’s Road to open for travelers
The 4.5-kilometer Roman-era King’s Road in Mersin is being cleaned for restoration work. When the work is done, the road is expected to be on the itinerary of international archaeology travel groups. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sept 28, 2015
White marble used in Aspendos restoration stirs debate
Recent restoration work at the historical amphitheater of Aspendos has sparked outrage among tourists and cultural associations, as white marble has been used on the ancient site’s stairs and seats rather than stones of the original texture and color. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeozoologists open “BoneLab Ephesos” in Turkey
The University of Veterinary Medicine, together with the Austrian Archaeological Institute, recently opened the “BoneLab Ephesos” near the site. The new laboratory houses the largest scientific collection of bones and mollusc shells in Turkey. Source: Heritage Daily
Dog skeleton dating back 3,000 years discovered
A dog's skeleton dating back 3,000 years has been discovered under a house during excavations carried out in Tuşba, the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Urartu. The new discoveries unearthed offer insights into the reign of the Urartu as well as what daily life was like back then. Source: Daily Sabah
Seljuk-era archeological findings uncovered in ancient Greek city
The excavations in Comana Pontica, which is an ancient city located in Gümenek, 7 kilometers from the central Black Sea city of Tokat, indicate that a wealthy Seljuk or Danishmend community once lived in the area. Source: Daily Sabah
Sept 29, 2015
New research overturns theories about Lake Van
New data obtained during excavations on Van Castle has revealed that Lake Van was much smaller 7,000 years ago and has risen over time to reach its current size. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey's Culture Ministry defends restoration at Aspendos
White marble stones that were used in the renovation of the ancient amphitheater [actually it is a theatre - TAN comment] of Aspendos to great disdain due to their discordance with the original stones will ultimately blend in with their surroundings, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
