December 2016 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 01/02/2017 - 16:45

Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for December 2016. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!

Archaeology in Turkey - 2016 in review

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 12/30/2016 - 16:00

2016 has been a year difficult to sum up in just one sentence, and this applies also to the area of archaeology in Turkey. Numerous fascinating discoveries have been made, often by chance, and we have gained a better understanding of past civilizations that once inhabited Asia Minor. On the other hand, Turkish tourism sector has been in steep decline since 2014, and this negative trend has also affected the income generated by the most popular museums and archaeological sites. Several scandals have been revealed, shaking the archaeological world as well as the general audience.

Church and Monastery of St Nicholas in Mustafapaşa

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 12/29/2016 - 11:55

There are three rock churches in the valley that is situated to the south of Mustafapaşa centre. The most impressive of them is the church and the monastery of St. Nicholas. Along with the other two churches - St. Stephen and Sinasos - it forms Monastery Valley Open Air Museum (tr. Manastır Vadisi Açık Hava Müzesi). It is worth mentioning that there are 14 churches dedicated to St. Nicholas in Cappadocia.

Church and Monastery of St Nicholas in Mustafapaşa

Archaeology Museum in Çanakkale

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 12/23/2016 - 17:18

Please note that the collections of Archaeology Museum in Çanakkale have been transferred to the new Troy Museum, situated near the ruins of Troy. The Archaeology Museum in Çanakkale is now closed and the photos presented in this article document the exhibitions now displayed in the Troy Museum.

The Archaeology Museum in Çanakkale collects the exhibits from the area of the ancient Troad, i.e. the Biga Peninsula. However, despite the enormous historical significance of the region and its incredibly rich history, the museum collection is quite disappointing. Nevertheless, a visit to this museum is recommended before going to Troy and Dardanos Tumulus, situated on the way to Troy. The museum was founded in 1936. Initially, it operated in a former church, but in 1984, it was moved to a new building. In the small garden of the museum, there are a lot of stone exhibits, including sarcophagi, columns, and gravestones.

Avanos

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 12/21/2016 - 12:11

Avanos, located on the Kızılırmak River (literally Red River), is a town famous for its beautiful pottery that has been produced there for millennia. The production process uses the clay extracted from Kızılırmak, with a characteristic reddish hue. However, Avanos is not only a ceramic workshop but also a charming town where it is possible to stroll along a riverside promenade. It is also an alternative accommodation base for exploring Cappadocia.