The most exciting archaeological news in September was, most probably, the discovery that the history of the legendary Troy is longer than previously thought. Moreover, an ancient princess’ sanctuary was found in Amasra, while the excavations at Boncuklu Höyük and Kahin Tepe revealed the secrets of the prehistoric period of Asia Minor. The archaeologists also struck gold at the Apollon Smintheion Temple in the Troad where they found 68 gold coins, dating back to the Byzantine era. Meanwhile, the ancient settlement of Hasankeyf will soon be submerged as part of a controversial dam project.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for September 2019. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
September 2, 2019
Troy's history older than previously thought
Excavations at the ancient city of Troy, which is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, are underway at the oldest settlement of the archaeological site. Source: Daily Sabah
Researchers have found the remains of one of the two main roads used in Anatolia centuries ago in Bilecik province, in Turkey's Marmara region, officials said Monday. Source: Daily Sabah
September 3, 2019
Kazakh gold armor to be exhibited
The Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara is set to display an armor made of gold dating back to the fifth century from Sept. 12 to Oct. 12. The armor dubbed 'Golden Man' was unearthed 50 years ago in Kazakhstan. The costume is made of thousands of separate gold pieces decorated with motifs and is viewed as one of the country's national symbols. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
September 4, 2019
Traces of trade found in 8,000-year-old tumulus
During the excavations made by the Turkish Historical Society, Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University and the Swiss-based Luwian Studies Foundation, hundreds of copper and silver waste, pottery and hand tools used in weaving were found in the 8,000-year-old tumulus in the western Kutahya province. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Mining history begins in SE Turkey: Expert
Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır, home to ancient civilizations, offers an insight into history with archeological excavations. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
People who lived in ancient settlement in central Turkey migrated to Europe: archaeologists
Excavations at the 10,300-year-old Boncuklu Höyük settlement mound in Turkey's central Konya province have revealed that the people who lived in the settlement migrated to Europe, the archeologist leading the excavation has said. Source: Daily Sabah
September 5, 2019
Excavations unearth Hellenistic-era temple in western Turkey
Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient temple dating back to the Hellenistic era in ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Thyateira in western Turkey's Manisa province, the local municipality said in a statement Thursday. Source: Daily Sabah
Expert: Mining began in southeast Turkey
"The mining history begins with Çayönü" Aslı Erim Özdogan, head of the archaeology department at 18 Mart Çanakkale University told Anadolu Agency (AA). Özdogan said it is the first time in the region that pieces of copper beads and jewelry were made through heating copper. Source: Daily Sabah
September 6, 2019
Boncuklu Höyük, the ancestor of Çatalhöyük
Archaeological excavations are continuing in the 10,000-year-old Boncuklu Höyük (mound), located nine kilometers from Çatalhöyük, one of the world’s oldest settlements in the Karatay district of the Central Anatolian province of Konya. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archeologists unearth ancient findings in Turkey's east
Archeologists on Sept. 6 unearthed 5,000-year-old rooms and terracotta pots in eastern Van province of Turkey. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeological excavations that have been ongoing in the ancient city of Thyateira in the western province of Manisa have unearthed a temple, which is believed to date back to the Hellenistic and Roman eras. The rectangle-planned temple has the traces of Ionian architecture. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
The area where the tomb of Ottoman Sultan Süleiman I was discovered in Hungary's Szigetvar town will be turned into an open air museum until the end of this year, officials said Friday. Source: Daily Sabah
September 7, 2019
Well-preserved 2,200-year-old masks found in ancient city in southern Turkey
Archaeologists discovered 2,200-year-old masks in the ancient city of Stratonikeia located in the Yatağan district of Turkey's southern Muğla province. Source: Daily Sabah
September 8, 2019
Ongoing excavations in coastal city of Mersin
Excavations continue in Turkey's southern coastal city of Mersin at the Yumuktepe Höyük (tumulus) that dates back to 7,000 BC, the head of the research team has told Anadolu Agency. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
September 9, 2019
Romans wrote sorrowful poems on tombstones, excavations in western Turkey reveal
Tombstones unearthed during the excavations in the ancient city of Aizanoi in western Turkey's Kütahya province revealed important details about the lifestyle of the people of the era, head of the excavation team said Monday. Source: Daily Sabah
September 10, 2019
Karahantepe excavations start in Şanlıurfa
Archaeological excavations have begun in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa’s Karahantepe ancient site, which is home to more than 250 Neolithic-era T-shaped obelisks similar to the ones in the world-famous Göbeklitepe. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
September 12, 2019
Black Sea’s Santa ruins fascinate visitors
The Santa ruins on the Trabzon-Gümüşhane border in the Black Sea region fascinate visitors. Located inside Dumanlı village, about 72 kilometers away from Gümüşhane city center and 42 kilometers away from Trabzon’s Arşin district; the ruins are home to artifacts unique to Greek civil architecture. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
‘They are barbaric’: Turkey prepares to flood 12,000-year-old city to build dam
The ancient settlement of Hasankeyf will soon be submerged as part of a controversial dam project – despite residents’ protests. Source: The Guardian
September 13, 2019
Iron ore pit discovered in ancient city in northern Turkey
An iron ore pit discovered in the ancient city of Tium in Turkey's Black Sea province of Zonguldak will welcome tourists after excavations are complete. Source: Daily Sabah
September 14, 2019
Troy tourist hotspot since ancient era
Excavations in the ancient city of Troy, which is located in the northwestern province of Çanakkale and considered one of the important areas of archaeological studies in the world, have revealed that the region was a favorite of tourists 2,500 years ago, too. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Plants in ancient Antalya sites to be taken under protection
The “Lathyrus phaselitanus” of the ancient city of Phaselis, the “Alkanna macrophylla” of Perge, the “Orobanche sideana” of Side, the “Himantoglossum montis-tauri” of Aspendos and the “Colchicum baytopiorum” of Termessos, which grow only in these areas in the world, will be taken under protection. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
September 17, 2019
The origin of the tin used in the Bronze Age has long been one of the greatest enigmas in archaeological research. Now researchers from Heidelberg University and the Curt Engelhorn Centre for Archaeometry in Mannheim have solved part of the puzzle. Source: Heritage Daily
World's oldest irrigation channel to open to tourists in eastern Turkey
Work is underway to revive the 2,800-year-old Şamran Irrigation Channel for tourism, which was built during the Urartian Kingdom and is accepted as a world water engineering wonder. Source: Daily Sabah
5,000-year-old ceramics from Kura-Araxes culture unearthed in eastern Turkey’s Bitlis province
A group of archaeologists has unearthed 5,000-year-old ceramics during excavations in eastern Turkey's Bitlis province, the head of the excavation team said Tuesday. Source: Daily Sabah
September 18, 2019
Roman-era mosaic revealed by illegal excavation in SE Turkey’s Mardin
A Roman-era mosaic believed to be at least 1,500 years old was unearthed during an illegal excavation in southeastern Turkey's Mardin province. Source: Daily Sabah
2,000-year-old milestone used as coffee table in Turkey’s west
Frequenters of a local coffee house in Turkey’s western province of Aydın have been using a 2,000-year-old Roman milestone as a table for the last 25 years. Zeynel Şenler, the owner of the coffee house, found the ancient milestone, considering it a usual slate, and placed it in his shop. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
September 19, 2019
Project to float boats in ancient city continues
Within the scope of works carried out to float boats like in the ancient times, earth filled on Roman-era walls is being removed in the ancient city of Aizanoi in Çavdarhisar district of the western province of Kütahya. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Replica of ancient ship to be displayed in Turkey's Antalya
A replica of an ancient ship designed by a German archaeologist will be anchored in Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Source: Daily Sabah
Turkey’s largest caravanserai on historic Silk Road to open to visitors
Anatolia's biggest caravanserai, called "Sultan Han," will open to visitors in central Turkey's Aksaray province in October after restoration works are completed on the historic structure, media reports said Thursday. Source: Daily Sabah
September 20, 2019
Architectural details of ancient city come to light
Experts have been working to uncover the architectural details of structures in a forum area in the ancient city of Alexandria Troas. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Lion statue from Hellenistic period uncovered in Çanakkale
Turkish archaeologists in northwestern Turkey unearthed a 2,200-year-old lion statue from the Hellenistic period in the ancient city of Assos, the head of the excavation team said. Source: Daily Sabah
Byzantine-era cistern unearthed in Turkey's Yalova
As Turkish academics and archaeologists continue digging deep in a historical site located in Çobankale castle of northwestern Yalova province, they unearth new historical artifacts, the latest of which is a centuries-old cistern. Source: Daily Sabah
September 21, 2019
Scientists unveil face of 7,500-year-old woman from Turkey
Scientists recreated the face of a 7,500-year-old Neolithic woman believed to be from Anatolia, based on the broken skull found near Gibraltar. Source: Daily Sabah
September 22, 2019
Archeologists shed light on Çobankale's history
As Turkish academics and archeologists continue digging deep in a historical site located in Çobankale castle of northwestern Yalova province, they unearth new historical artifacts, the latest of which is a centuries-old cistern. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
September 25, 2019
Seljuk caravanserai strikes tourists’ interest
A Seljuk caravanserai built in the 13th century in present-day Turkey is thronged by tourists all year round. The Sultanhanı Caravanserai located in the central province of Aksaray, a stop on the ancient Silk Road, received 500,000 tourists this year, Mayor Fahri Solak told Anadolu Agency. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient princess’ sanctuary discovered in Turkey's Amasra
Archeologists have discovered ancient pillars and pillar bases believed to be from the sanctuary of Princess Amastris in Turkey's northern Bartın province, a report said Wednesday. Source: Daily Sabah
September 26, 2019
Turkey's new museum with over 2,000 ancient artifacts
A new museum in Turkey's eastern province of Tunceli will display more than 2,000 historical artifacts, according to the provincial director of culture and tourism. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient Roman bath found in Turkey's western Kütahya
Archaeologists have unearthed remains of a bathhouse in the ancient city of Aizanoi in western Turkey. Source: Daily Sabah
September 27, 2019
Archaeologists find 1,500-year-old Byzantine treasure in Turkey’s Çanakkale
Archaeologists have discovered 68 gold coins, dating back 1,500 years to the Byzantine era, in the village of Gülpınar in northwestern Çanakkale province. Source: Daily Sabah
Archaeologists strive to solve mystery of giant ancient green rock in central Turkey
A giant ancient green rock located in the capital of the Hittite Empire in central Turkey awaits visitors and archaeology enthusiasts to solve its centuries-old mystery. Source: Daily Sabah
September 30, 2019
Renovated sections reopened at Istanbul Archaeology Museums
The first museum of the Ottoman and the Republican periods, the Istanbul Archaeology Museums reopened its doors. According to a written statement made by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, one of the most beautiful and magnificent examples of Neo-Classical architecture in Istanbul, the “Sidon King Necropolis” and “Antiquity Sculpture” halls in the Archaeology Museums, were renewed and are now welcoming visitors. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Exciting finds at Kahin Tepe excavations
The Kahin Tepe excavations in the northern province of Kastamonu’s Araç district have unearthed findings such as a grinding stone and ornaments belonging to the Aceramic Neolithic period. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
