In November 2018, it was announced that the year 2019 will be "Göbeklitepe Year". The most important archaeological discoveries made in the area of Turkey were: an earthenware seal dating back 8 thousand years found in the Aegean Region, and a Viking sword thought to be over 1,000 years old, discovered in Patara. The end of November saw the return of twelve ancient Zeugma mosaic pieces, looted during illegal excavations in Turkey’s southeastern province of Gaziantep nearly 50 years ago.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for November 2018. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
November 2, 2018
Turkey’s Culture Ministry to boost promotion of museums
Culture Minister Nuri Ersoy has said his ministry will allocate a certain portion of its revenue to promote the country’s museums to visitors starting from next year. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Closed historical venues in İznik draw reaction
The closing of many historical venues due to reasons such as excavations and renovations in the northwestern province of Bursa’s İznik district, which is a center that attracts tourists, has drawn reaction. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Roman-era cave found in Adıyaman
An Eastern Roman-era cave has been found in the eastern province of Adıyaman. Located within the boundaries of the Gerger district, cross figures found inside the cave indicate that the cave used during religious ceremonies by Christians. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Historic 2,900-year-old Urartu city to serve as open-air museum
Located on the historic Silk Route and being one of the leading Urartu cities that has survived up until today along with the 2,900-year-old Altıntepe Castle in it, the ancient site in Erzincan province will be transformed into an archaeological park and serve as an open-air museum. Source: Daily Sabah
Dirty Jokes in Latrine Mosaics Entertained Ancient Romans
As men relieved themselves at the public toilets in the coastal city of Antiochia ad Cragum some 1,800 years ago, they probably would have been amused by dirty scenes crafted into floor mosaics, archaeologists have found. Source: Live Science
November 3, 2018
Yenikapı shipwrecks in need of museum
The conservation of four of the 37 sunken ships raised from Yenikapı, one of the most important excavations in the world in the field of port archeology, has been completed and the ships are ready to be exhibited at a museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 5, 2018
Making a living in an ancient city in Anatolia
Once a thriving and influential city in the late Bronze Age, the ancient city of Hattusha, which was also the capital of the Hittite Empire for 450 years, has been providing jobs to locals who help archaeologists unearth the history of their hometown. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 7, 2018
Ancient Black Sea monastery to be renovated and protected
Located in Şimşirli, nearly 32 kilometers from Trabzon's Maçka district, Kuştul Monastery has officially been registered as memorial monument thanks to Maçka Municipality's application to Trabzon General Directorate of Cultural and Natural Heritage. Source: Daily Sabah
November 9, 2018
8,000-year-old seal unearthed in Aegean Turkey
An earthenware seal dating back 8,000 years has been unearthed in Turkey's Aegean region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 12, 2018
Unique Roman signet ring engraved with horses found in Antalya
Archaeological excavations in Myra, one of the six most important cities of the Lycian Union, and its port Andriake in the southern province of Antalya have unearthed a 1,800-year-old signet ring without a band. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 13, 2018
Water channel and tunnel in heart of Diyarbakır
Works on the 5,000 year-old Amida Mound in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır’s historic Sur district, called “the heart of the city,” have unearthed a water channel and a tunnel, which reaches the channel. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient footprints found in Bursa
A pair of human footprints from 7,500 years ago was found in the Aktopraklık mound where the 15th year of excavations have been completed. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 14, 2018
Rare examples of civil architecture in Black Sea city under restoration
Located in Turkey's Bayburt province on the Silk Road and featuring centuries-old designs, Bayburt houses have officially been registered as examples of civil architecture. Adorned with wooden ornaments and kirmans, a kind of runner generally used to cover ceilings in the region, select houses are currently under restoration. Source: Daily Sabah
November 15, 2018
Mosaics in ancient monastery brought to light
In the Kadirli district of Osmaniye province, mosaics nearly a millennium old have been uncovered during the restoration of the ancient Ala Mosque. The mosque, which has been closed to worship since 1924, was built as a monastery 1,800 years ago during the time of the Roman Empire and then transformed into a church later. Source: Daily Sabah
November 19, 2018
US university to send ‘Gypsy Girl’ mosaic pieces to Turkey on Nov. 26: Minister
Twelve ancient Zeugma mosaic pieces looted during illegal excavations in Turkey’s southeastern province of Gaziantep nearly 50 years ago will be returned to the country from the U.S. on Nov. 26, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said on Nov. 19. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
1,000-year-old Viking sword unearthed in ancient city
A Viking sword thought to be over 1,000 years old has been unearthed during excavations works in the ancient city of Patara in the southern province of Antalya’s Kaş district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 20, 2018
Fossil found in Turkey reveals 20 mln-year-old predator
A tooth fossil found 10 years ago in western Turkey has been learned to belong to a predator which is considered to be the ancestor of feliformia, or cat-like carnivorans. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 21, 2018
Mass grave dating back 7,000 years discovered in southern Turkey’s Antalya
A mass grave in southern Turkey dating back thousands of years could give new insight into the people of that era, according to Turkish researchers. Source: Daily Sabah
November 24, 2018
Millennia-old historic underground in İznik
The site of an ancient Roman theater in the northwestern province of Bursa’s İznik district has been found to be much older than previously thought after archaeologists removed 1,600 tons of earth and extracted ceramics dating back to the 6th century B.C., the Ionian era. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 25, 2018
Triumphal Arch in Adana to get new facade
A gate in the ancient city of Anavarza, which was built by the Romans in the 3rd century B.C. after their triumph against the Persians and called it the Triumphal Arch, is being restored. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 26, 2018
Rescue excavation in Turkey's Black Sea Region to shed light on history
During a rescue excavation conducted on a first-degree archaeological site in Bayburt's Çiğdemtepe Village by the Bayburt Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism and Erzurum Directorate of Cultural Heritage, officials found a room and aisle thought to date back to the Early Bronze Age. Source: Daily Sabah
November 27, 2018
'Golden year' expectations for Turkey's Göbeklitepe
The Göbeklitepe archaeological site in Şanlıurfa, one of Turkey's most historic provinces, is preparing to host more tourists than ever before after Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that they will recognize 2019 as "Göbeklitepe Year." Source: Daily Sabah
19 Roman tombs unearthed in southern Turkey's Antakya
19 rock tombs have been cleaned and examined in the necropolis in the Altınözü district of Hatay province, where the ruins of the ancient city of Antioch are located. Source: Daily Sabah
November 28, 2018
Gypsy Girl mosaic pieces back home in Turkey
Missing pieces of the famed “Gypsy Girl” mosaic arrived in Turkey from the U.S. on Nov. 27 via flag carrier Turkish Airlines. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 29, 2018
Ancient olive seeds unearthed in Turkey's Kilis
Archaeological excavations in Oylum Mound, one of the biggest of its kind in the southeastern Turkey, have unearthed olive seeds from 4,000 years ago. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Epic tales of Dede Qorqud on UNESCO list
The epic tales of Dede Qorqud, passed on for centuries by the Oghuz Turks, have been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 30, 2018
Roman-era tomb revealed after heavy rain triggers landslides in southwestern Bodrum
An ancient tomb dating back to late Roman period was found Friday in the Aegean resort town of Bodrum in southwestern Turkey's Muğla province following the heavy rains that left the town underwater. Source: Daily Sabah
