August 2026 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 09/01/2026 - 11:30

August 2026 brought a remarkable range of archaeological discoveries and announcements from across Türkiye. Among the highlights were an approximately 11,000-year-old human-and-leopard sculpture from Karahantepe, Epipalaeolithic turtle figurines from Gedikkaya Hill and In Cave, a monumental marble statue from Sardis, new Roman-period discoveries at Aspendos, including a necropolis and a statue of Asklepios, and a large early 5th-century church with mosaics and frescoes at Antandros. Excavations also revealed a monumental Hittite structure at Sapinuwa, a Roman and Early Byzantine settlement at Salkaya, and evidence interpreted as the earliest known plague in Anatolia at İznik. Particularly noteworthy was a discovery in ancient Smyrna (modern İzmir), where excavations uncovered three Late Antique rooms with previously undocumented wall paintings, adding new evidence for the city's later Roman and early Byzantine history. Together, these discoveries illustrate the extraordinary chronological and cultural diversity of Türkiye's archaeological heritage, spanning more than 10,000 years from the Epipalaeolithic to the Byzantine period.

Amos

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 08/25/2026 - 14:13

Perched on a steep, rocky hill above the cerulean waters of the Mediterranean, the ruins of ancient Amos command a spectacular stretch of the Carian coast. The settlement occupies the elongated Asarcık promontory, rising between two sheltered bays and offering wide views across the surrounding sea and hills. Its surviving walls, theatre, sanctuaries, and recently excavated domestic buildings reveal the remains of a small but remarkably well-organised ancient community, once connected with the powerful Rhodian world across the water.

For centuries, however, Amos remained little more than a name and a scattering of ruins on a wooded hillside. Today, a new generation of archaeological excavations is gradually changing that picture, revealing unexpected evidence for the settlement's much earlier origins and providing fresh insights into the lives, beliefs, and daily activities of its inhabitants. Easily reached from the nearby resort of Turunç, Amos offers something increasingly rare: the opportunity to explore an ancient city while its history is still being uncovered.

Amos ruins and the view towards the north

Lyrboton Kome

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 15:22

Just 12 kilometres south of the Mediterranean coast, on a hill overlooking the provincial capital of Antalya, stand the extensive ruins of an ancient settlement virtually unknown to most travellers and tourists. These ruins are known as Lyrboton Kome and come as a surprise because of their picturesque setting above the metropolis, within a pleasantly forested area. Sadly, as of 2026, they seem largely abandoned by researchers and visitors alike. So, what is the history of the Lyrboton Kome settlement? Let us try to find out as much as possible.

Galata Tower in Istanbul

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 08/11/2026 - 09:48

Rising above the winding streets of Galata, the Galata Tower is one of Istanbul's most recognizable landmarks and a monument that embodies the city's extraordinary layers of history. Standing on a ridge overlooking the Golden Horn, the tower has dominated the skyline for centuries, serving at different times as a defensive structure, observation point, fire-watch station, and symbol of the city itself. Today it remains one of the most visited monuments in Istanbul, offering spectacular views across Europe and Asia.

July 2026 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 08/01/2026 - 13:03

July 2026 was another remarkable month for archaeology in Türkiye, with discoveries ranging from the Neolithic to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Among the standout finds were a hoard of 50 Persian gold coins buried around 2,500 years ago at Notion, a rare 5,000-year-old Bronze Age temple with altars and sacred hearths at Tadım Höyük, and the identification of a long-misunderstood temple at Yalvaç as a sanctuary dedicated to the Anatolian goddess Hecate. Excavations also revealed the remains of the lost church associated with the First Council of Nicaea beneath the Iznik Basilica, a 2,000-year-old Roman road at Aspendos, an impressive Roman swimming pool, and a beautifully preserved Poseidon mosaic at Tralleis, while work at Türkmen Karahöyük produced a 3,500-year-old Luwian seal and a Late Roman gold amulet.

Important research shed new light on ancient trade, climate and daily life, including Early Bronze Age obsidian from the Greek island of Melos at Çaltılar Höyük, evidence that olives once grew around Kültepe 5,000 years ago, and a rare Byzantine twin burial uncovered at Ephesus. Archaeological projects across Ani, Tyana, Karahantepe, Oylum Höyük, and Pompeiopolis continued to expand knowledge of Türkiye's rich past, while restored monuments and museums, including the Macedonian Tower, Hıdırlık Tower, Topkapı Palace's Serbethane and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, made newly conserved heritage accessible to visitors. The month also saw Türkiye recover the long-lost 13th panel of the famous Zeugma 'Gypsy Girl' mosaic from the United States, underscoring the country's ongoing efforts to protect and reunite its archaeological heritage.