April 2018 was the month when extensive restoration programmes were announced by Turkish authorities. İmera Monastery in the Black Sea province of Gümüşhane, Armenian Cathedral of Ani in Turkey's eastern Kars Province, and St. Nicholas' Monastery in Kıyıköy village in Vize district are among the historical structures set for renovation. Let's hope that the works will preserve the character of these important monuments.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for April 2018. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
April 2, 2018
İmera Monastery standing strong for over half-a-century
The 668-year-old İmera Monastery in the Black Sea province of Gümüşhane is set to undergo restoration. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 3, 2018
Abandoned Aegean villages open to tourism
Settlements that have been abandoned over the years on İzmir’s Karaburun Peninsula have become tourist attractions for their hiking and nature activities. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 5, 2018
Ancient tomb found in illegal excavations in Aydın
An ancient tomb has been unearthed in an area where illegal excavations were carried out in the ancient city of Aphrodisias in the western province of Aydın’s Karacasu district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 6, 2018
Campaign for Perge’s columns kicked off
A campaign has been launched to restore columns in the ancient city of Perge in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, which has named 2018 “the Year of Perge.” Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 9, 2018
Historic cistern unearthed in Kars
A water cistern has been unearthed during restoration works at the Beylerbeyi Palace, built in 1579 around the castle in the eastern Turkish province of Kars. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 10, 2018
Prophets’ history museum to draw pilgrims to Turkey’s ancient Şanlıurfa province
One of the world's most significant religious sites, Turkey's southeastern Şanlıurfa province is now building a museum to honor the history of the prophets believed to have lived there thousands of years ago. Source: Daily Sabah
April 11, 2018
‘Smiling Virgin Mary’ welcomes visitors in Niğde
A fresco depicting a smiling Virgin Mary in the Gümüşler Monastery in the Central Anatolian province of Niğde has been drawing much attention of local and foreign tourists, but it is yet to be found whether she was actually smiling when the fresco was first made or it is the result of a restoration that went wrong. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 13, 2018
Ancient Myra meeting ground unearthed
2,400-year-old meeting ground has been found during archaeological excavations in the southern province of Antalya’s Demre district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient Aphrodisias monitored with drones
The ancient city of Aphrodisias and the Aphrodisias museum in the western province of Aydın’s Karacasu district are being monitored with drones. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 15, 2018
Medieval Ani Cathedral in eastern Turkey to go under renovation
The ruined medieval Cathedral of Ani in Turkey's eastern Kars province, which is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will go under restoration, reports said Sunday. Source: Daily Sabah
April 16, 2018
6th century Assyrian monastery opened in southeastern Turkey 100 years after its abandonment
A sixth-century Assyrian monastery in southeastern Batman province opened on Monday some 100 years after being abandoned. Source: Daily Sabah
New project to provide tourists ease of access to caves in Turkey’s Mersin
New project to provide tourists ease of access to caves in Turkey’s Mersin Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 17, 2018
Mystery around Tokat wooden tombs unsolved
Mystery surrounding wooden tombs that were previously found in the Büyükyurt village in the northern province of Tokat’s Niksar district still remains unsolved. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 18, 2018
New steel roof to protect Zeugma mosiacs in Şanlıurfa
Construction has been completed on a new roof to better protect the ancient city of Zeugma, famous for its Gypsy Girl mosaic, and located on the shore of the Euphrates River in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 23, 2018
Ancient monastery to revive tourism in Turkey's Kırklareli
At St. Nicholas' Monastery in Kıyıköy village in Vize district of Kırklareli province, which dates back the sixth century A.D., restoration works are being conducted to revive touristic attention. Source: Daily Sabah
April 25, 2018
Ancient stadium in Antalya returns to its heyday
Works have been initiated for the restoration of a Roman-era stadium in the ancient city of Perge in the southern province of Antalya. Along with traditional sports, gladiator performances are planned to be performed in the 12,000-person capacity stadium upon completion. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 27, 2018
Theodosius Cistern, a witness to Istanbul's long history
Dating back to the Byzantine period, the 1,600-year-old Thedosius Cistern is now open for visitors after an eight-year restoration project, accompanied by an impressive art installation. Source: Daily Sabah
