December 2022 saw some important discoveries made in the area of Turkey. Possibly, the most impressive one was an 11,000-year-old wall relief, located near Şanlıurfa's Sayburç, depicting two humans, a bull, and two leopards. It constitutes the earliest known depiction of a narrative scene and reflects the relationship between humans and the natural world that surrounded them during the transition to a sedentary lifestyle. Even older traces of human activity were found during the archaeological excavation carried out in the Gedikkaya Cave in Bilecik Province. There, a stone figurine was discovered in a 16500-year-old votive pit belonging to the Epipalaeolithic period, the transition phase from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age.
From the more recent history, this year's excavations at the Urartian castle's site in Van Province revealed the second temple of King Menua as well as a chamber tomb. Further to the north, a pair of lynx-shaped gold earrings were unearthed near Ani ruins. In western Turkey, archaeologists discovered rare sculptures of ancient Greek gods in the city of Aizanoi in Kütahya Province. The sculptures found on the site include Eros, Dionysus, and Hercules.
The restoration works carried out last month included ten historical Ottoman bridges in Bitlis Province. Perhaps even more impressive restoration project was finalized in the ancient city of Kibyra in Burdur Province of southwestern Turkey. There, the approximately 2,000-year-old monumental fountain will start flowing with fresh water again thanks to the restoration project. Sadly, there was also some sad news, as the tourism officials claim that the Basilica in the ancient city of Hierapolis, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is in danger of collapse.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for December 2022. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
December 1, 2022
Stratonikeia in focus of researchers
Excavations in the ancient city of Stratonikeia, the largest marble ancient city in the world in the Yatağan district of the western province of Muğla and visited by thousands of local and foreign tourists every year, attract the attention of researchers. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
December 5, 2022
Bitlis' centuries-old historical bridges shine with restoration
Restoration work on 10 historical bridges continues in Bitlis under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, in a project that also hopes to boost the tourism of the city. Source: Daily Sabah
Türkiye's archaeological 'Stone Hills Project' introduced in Berlin
The "Stone Hills Project" ("Taş Tepeler Projesi"), which also includes Göbeklitepe, the site considered the zero-point of human civilization, was introduced through a panel held in the German capital Berlin. Source: Daily Sabah
December 12, 2022
Oldest scene in world: 11,000-year-old wall relief near Göbeklitepe
An 11,000-year-old wall relief, located near Şanlıurfa's famous Göbeklitepe in southeastern Türkiye, constitutes the earliest known depiction of a narrative "scene" and reflects the complex relationship between humans, the natural world and the animal life that surrounded them during the transition to a sedentary lifestyle, new research revealed recently. The ancient wall carving depicts five figures: Two humans, a bull and two leopards. Source: Daily Sabah
December 17, 2022
Ancient mosaics to open to visitors in 2023
Work has been initiated to open a 900 square meter area, which is home to the remains of mosaics and villas dating back 1,500 years, during the excavations carried out in the ancient city of Germanicia in the southern province of Kahramanmaraş. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
In Turkey’s Gedikkaya Cave, a stone figurine was discovered inside a 16,500-year-old votive pit
A stone figurine was discovered in a 16500-year-old votive pit belonging to the Epi-paleolithic period, the transition phase from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age, during the archaeological excavation carried out in the Gedikkaya Cave in the İnhisar district of Bilecik in northwest Turkey. Source: Arkeonews
December 20, 2022
Ancient basilica under danger of collapse
Tourism officials claim that the Bath Basilica in the ancient city of Hierapolis, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is in danger of collapse. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeologists discover Urartian king's temple in Van excavations
This year's excavations at the Urartian castle's site in Van's Muradiye revealed the second temple of King Menua as well as a chamber tomb. Source: Daily Sabah
December 21, 2022
Medieval gold 'lynx' earrings from Ani Ruins set for 2023 exhibition
A pair of lynx-shaped gold earrings have been unearthed near eastern Türkiye's Ani Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The valuables dazzled archaeologists with their star, droplet and crescent motifs engraved with fine workmanship and are set to be exhibited at the Kars Archaeology and Ethnography Museum in 2023 for a limited time after being safely guarded in a warehouse up to now. Source: Daily Sabah
December 22, 2022
Archaeologists revealed Urartian King Menua second temple in Van excavations
The second temple of King Menua as well as a chamber tomb were unearthed during the excavations carried out this year in the Urartian castle in the Muradiye district of Van, in eastern Turkey. Source: Arkeonews
December 23, 2022
Sculptures of ancient Greek gods discovered in Türkiye
Archaeologists discovered rare sculptures of Greek mythological gods in the ancient city of Aizanoi in Türkiye’s Kütahya province, reports said Friday. The sculptures found on the site include Eros, Dionysus and Hercules. Source: Daily Sabah
December 26, 2022
Turkiye detains suspect trying to sell Roman-era sarcophagus
Turkish security forces detained a suspect who was attempting to sell a Roman-era sarcophagus for TL 5 million ($267.887). Gendarmerie Command squads in Manisa province launched an operation after receiving an intelligence input that the suspect, identified as S.D., would sell the ancient sarcophagus to someone in the capital Ankara, a statement from the Governor’s Office read on Monday. Source: Daily Sabah
December 28, 2022
Italian-Turkish team of archaeologists led by the University of Pisa unearthed a mysterious circle-shaped structure from the Hittite era at Uşaklı Höyük (Uşaklı Mound), a Hittite settlement in central Turkey. The find, along with other finds from previous excavation seasons, could help confirm that the site was indeed the ancient sacred city of Zippalanda. Source: Arkeonews
December 29, 2022
Türkiye restores 1,120 smuggled artifacts in 2022
Some 1,120 cultural and historical artifacts were returned to Türkiye thanks to the work carried out by teams from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the General Directorate of Museums and the Anti-Smuggling Department, with the support of the police and the gendarmerie. Source: Daily Sabah
December 31, 2022
After 1,300 years, water to again flow from monumental fountain in Kibyra in Turkey
The approximately 2,000-year-old monumental fountain in the ancient city of Kibyra in Golhisar, Burdur in southwestern Turkey will start flowing with fresh water again thanks to the restoration project of the ancient city. Source: Arkeonews
