Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for April 2017. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
April 1, 2017
Anatolia’s oldest known olive oil press found in Antalya
The oldest olive oil press in Anatolia has been discovered in the ancient city of Lyrboton Kome in Antalya, but archaeologists have expressed special excitement at revelations that many of the olive oil facilities and the town itself was founded by a woman. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 8, 2017
Biggest restoration in history of Topkapı Palace underway
Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace Museum is undergoing the most comprehensive restoration project in its history. The ongoing 24 projects are expected to cost 220 million Turkish Liras, Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı has said in a statement. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 10, 2017
Ancient Roman tunnel in Turkey's Hatay to attract tourists
Efforts are underway to boost tourism near the site of an ancient water tunnel from the Roman period, located in Turkey's southern Hatay province, which has historically hosted numerous civilizations at different times. Source: Daily Sabah
Historical 'Leaning Minaret' to be restored in central Turkey
Eğri Minare, a historical minaret located in central Turkey's Aksaray, will be restored by the General Directorate for Foundations. The building dating back to the Seljuk epoch has a tilt of 3.11 degrees and therefore has been compared to world-famous Tower of Pisa. Source: Daily Sabah
April 11, 2017
Mystery of Çatalhöyük’s early structures to be solved soon
An excavation team that has been working at Çatalhöyük in Central Anatolia for decades has come the closest yet to solving some of the mysteries surrounding the Neolithic site’s earliest structures, according to the head of the dig. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Humanity's heritage under threat from treasure hunters
Treasure hunting is not as cool as it is portrayed in the "Indiana Jones" series, nor does it serve to a higher purpose. In Turkey, which rests on the ancient lands of Anatolia, treasure hunters are not only misguided but they also destroy cultural heritage. Source: Daily Sabah
Centuries-old tomb in southeastern Turkey to be moved this April
The 650-year-old Zeynel Bey Tomb, which is located in close proximity to the Ilisu Dam in southeastern Turkey, will be moved to the new Hasankeyf Cultural Park April 18 to avoid being inundated with water and damaged. Source: Daily Sabah
April 12, 2017
A sculpture of Aristotle has been restored and re-erected in one of the most important centers of learning in the classical age, Assos on Turkey’s Aegean coast. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 15, 2017
Caravanserai to become expropriated amid alcohol debate
A caravanserai that was built by the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent for his mother, Ayşe Hafsa Sultan, in the resort district of Marmaris will now turn into a museum amid anger that some parts of the complex are currently used as a bar. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 18, 2017
Harran welcomes volunteer archaeologists
Visitors to the ancient site of Harran in Southeast Anatolia now have the chance to participate in excavations on one of the oldest sites in human history. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
2,000 year-old Roman emperor's summer home discovered in southern Turkey
Archaeologists in Turkey's southern Burdur province have discovered a 2,000 year-old summer palace belonging to a Roman emperor, reports said on Tuesday. Source: Daily Sabah
April 19, 2017
Ancient Anatolian statuette of abundance seeks record at New York auction
The “Kilia Idol,” a 23-centimeter statuette that has been smuggled from Turkey, will be auctioned on April 28 at New York Christies at an estimated price of $3 million. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
April 21, 2017
Hand-written Torah scrolls seized by Turkish police in anti-smuggling ops
Turkish police on Friday recovered two stolen Torah scrolls during anti-smuggling raids in southern coastal Adana province. Source: Daily Sabah
Turkey successfully retrieves Heracles statue from Switzerland
The statue of Heracles, which is currently in Switzerland will be repatriated to Turkey, the Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avcı said Friday. Source: Daily Sabah
April 25, 2017
Smuggled Torah, artifacts seized in Turkey’s northwest
Anti-smuggling teams have seized a stolen Torah believed to be 1,500 years old, along with other historical artifacts belonging to the Hellenistic and Seljuq periods, in an operation in Turkey’s western resort town of Ayvalık. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s former Kuleli Military High School building to be turned into museum
The iconic building of the former Kuleli Military High School located on Istanbul's Asian side of the Bosporus strait, will be turned into a museum, Minister of National Defense Fikri Işık said, spelling the end for the place whose officers and cadets were involved in last year's coup attempt. Source: Daily Sabah
April 26, 2017
Skeleton of ‘Russian general’ found inside unearthed coffin in Turkey’s Ardahan
A coffin thought to belong to a Russian general has been unearthed during foundation excavations for a construction project in the eastern province of Ardahan, Doğan News Agency reported on April 26. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
1,500 year-old church discovered during infrastructure work in Istanbul's Beylerbeyi
Remains from a 1,500-year-old church have been discovered during infrastructure works by Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration on the Asian shore of the Bosporus, reports said Wednesday. Source: Daily Sabah
April 29, 2017
Illegal excavations stir reaction in Myndos
Illegal excavations that have been continuing for the last three months in the ancient city of Myndos in Bodrum’s Gümüşlük neighborhood have elicited the anger of locals due to the lack of any action to halt the activity. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey seeks return of 5,000-year-old marble figure
Turkey has started legal action for the return of a 5,000-year-old Anatolian marble figure currently on the sale at a New York auction house, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
