November 2023 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 12/01/2023 - 17:17

In November 2023, several major archaeological discoveries were announced in the area of Turkey. In the southeastern region, in Zerzevan Castle, the archaeologists uncovered the remains of the entrance gate to a Temple of Mithras. In Cappadocia, the largest floor mosaic of Central Anatolia Region was unearthed during the excavations carried out in Örenşehir District. In the same region of the country, a 4,300-year-old braided mat was found in the Kültepe Kaniş Karum ruins. Finally, an ivory-decorated piece, estimated to be approximately 2,800 years old, was found during the archaeological excavation in the Hattusa ancient city in Çorum Province.

The vast area of Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite civilization

Yazılıkaya near Hattusa

Submitted by Iza on Fri, 12/01/2023 - 09:54

The Yazılıkaya Rock Sanctuary is the largest known Hittite open-air religious site. Its main parts are two galleries located in rocky corridors. They were once separated from the outside world by a complex of temple buildings, of which only the foundations and the outline of the walls have survived to this day.

Amasya

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 11/28/2023 - 17:24

Beautiful Amasya is located in the narrow valley of the Yeşilırmak River, bordered on both sides by the soaring peaks of the Pontic Mountains. This location results in its extraordinary picturesqueness, as well as its strategic importance on the communication routes leading through Anatolia. In Turkey, Amasya is famous as the "capital of apples".

Amasra Museum

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 11/27/2023 - 16:09

This small local museum, nicely located off the beaten path, was once awarded as the best small museum in Turkey. It's definitely worth visiting while in Amasra. Most of the artefacts and works exhibited in the museum building are directly related to the history of Amasra and its surrounding region, ranging from the Hellenistic to Roman periods as well as to the Byzantine, Genoese, and Ottoman eras.

Basilica of St John in Philadelphia

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 11/25/2023 - 14:27

One of the Seven Churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation was the city of Philadelphia, now known as Alaşehir. Unfortunately, there are no remains of a Christian temple from the period of this apostle's activity in the city, simply because the first Christians met in private houses or meeting rooms. The "Church" that the Book of Revelation mentions was the community of Christians in a particular area. However, in Alaşehir you can see the ruins of a church from the Byzantine period, and more precisely from the 6th century CE.