December 2025 closed the archaeological year in Türkiye with a remarkable density of discoveries, restorations, and fresh debates that stretched from the Neolithic foundations of settled life to the layered remains of the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman worlds. Across the country, excavations advanced at major sacred landscapes such as Letoon, Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, and Sefertepe, while long-sought structures like Limyra's Temple of Zeus and hidden palatial complexes at Kültepe finally emerged from the ground. Falling water levels, post-earthquake rescue works, and even chance encounters by shepherds and hikers revealed mosaics, rock art, funerary monuments, underground chapels, and unexpected traces of everyday life, reminding us how much of Anatolia's past still lies just beneath the surface.
Alongside new finds, December also highlighted the growing focus on conservation, interpretation, and cultural memory. Monumental restorations progressed at sites such as Gaziantep Castle, Euromos, Amasra, Zerzevan, and Yedikule, while repatriations from abroad and nationwide documentation projects underscored Türkiye's ongoing efforts to protect its heritage. From rare Neolithic figurines and Urartian fortifications to Late Roman reception halls, Byzantine mosaics, and Neo-Hittite urban centres, the discoveries announced this month reinforced Anatolia's role as one of the world's richest archaeological landscapes, where each season continues to refine, and sometimes overturn, what we thought we knew about the ancient past.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for December 2025. Have we missed anything? Please let us know by using Contact tab!
December 1, 2025
Letoon's sacred site set for faster excavations under Türkiye's Heritage for Future Project
UNESCO-listed Letoon Sanctuary in Türkiye's Mugla province is preparing for a new phase of accelerated archaeological work as the Heritage for the Future Project begins to reshape plans for excavation and restoration. Source: Türkiye Today
Historic Şanlıurfa church revived as cultural venue
The historic Reji Church in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa, a centuries-old former church, has been reborn as the Vali Kemalettin Gazezoğlu Cultural Center and is once again alive with vibrant cultural and artistic events. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sinop's buried past resurfaces as construction uncovers thousands of ancient artefacts
Sinop's urban landscape continues to reveal unexpected archaeological richness, as artefacts unearthed during construction projects undergo conservation before going on display at the city's Archaeology Museum. The initiative offers a clear view of how Türkiye's northern Black Sea province has acted as an agricultural treasure and cultural crossroads for centuries, linking Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman traditions. Source: Türkiye Today
Pope Leo XIV's visit rekindles debate: Did First Council of Nicaea meet at Sunken Basilica?
The 1700th anniversary visit of Pope Leo XIV to the ruins of a church lying just off the shore of Lake Iznik in northwestern Türkiye has brought an old question back to the surface: did the First Council of Nicaea in 325 actually meet on the very spot now known as the Sunken Basilica of Saint Neophytos? Source: Türkiye Today
A Shepherd's Chance Discovery Reveals a Roman Funerary Stele in the Hills of Muğla
High in the rugged hills of Seydikemer in southwestern Türkiye, a local shepherd made a discovery that is now reshaping the archaeological map of the region: a Roman-era funerary stele carved with human figures and detailed epigraphic inscriptions. The monument, resembling the form of a votive altar, has been safely recovered and transported to the Fethiye Museum, where it will soon be unveiled to the public. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 2, 2025
Türkiye's most extensive fake-artifact exhibition opens in Diyarbakir
Diyarbakir has unveiled Türkiye's largest and most comprehensive exhibition dedicated entirely to fake archaeological objects, bringing together 593 counterfeit pieces seized in anti-smuggling operations carried out by police and gendarmerie teams over different years. The new display at the Diyarbakir Museum aims to show visitors how difficult it can be to distinguish forgeries from genuine artefacts, even for trained eyes. Source: Türkiye Today
The UNESCO World Heritage sanctuary of Letoon in Muğla's Seydikemer district is entering a renewed phase of archaeological work, shedding light on one of ancient Lycia's most influential religious centers. Located near Kumluova and paired with the neighboring city of Xanthos on UNESCO's list since 1988, Letoon is renowned for its temples dedicated to Leto, Apollo, and Artemis, as well as its inscriptions and cult monuments that shaped Lycian identity for centuries. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 3, 2025
A significant breakthrough has reshaped archaeological understanding of Limyra, one of eastern Lycia's most storied ancient cities. Excavations in Finike, Antalya, have uncovered the long-missing Temple of Zeus—a sanctuary known from inscriptions since 1982 but whose location had eluded researchers for more than four decades. The discovery marks one of the most important developments in recent Lycian archaeology, offering new clarity on the city's sacred landscape and its evolution from the Classical period into late antiquity. Source: Arkeonews
Türkiye's UNESCO-recognized heritage site Anitli joins UNWTO's Best Tourism Villages list
Anitli, a centuries-old settlement in Türkiye's southeastern province of Mardin, has been included in the U.N. World Tourism Organization's “Best Tourism Villages 2025” list, strengthening the region's fast-growing momentum in cultural and faith tourism. Source: Türkiye Today
New clues near Mount Agri reignite debate over possible Noah's Ark site
A long-running debate over whether a ship-shaped formation near Mount Agri (Ararat) could be linked to the legendary Noah's Ark has resurfaced after new ceramic fragments were uncovered close to the site. Source: Türkiye Today
Newly Exposed Mosaic Structure in Lake Sapanca May Belong to a Late Antique Chapel, Researchers Say
The falling water level of Lake Sapanca in northwestern Türkiye has revealed a mosaic-paved structure that had remained submerged for centuries. As stone foundations and sections of patterned flooring emerged from the lakebed, specialists began reassessing the site's function and chronology. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 4, 2025
Restoration completed on quake-hit Gaziantep Castle
Restoration work has been completed on Gaziantep Castle, which was damaged in the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on Feb. 6, 2023. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Zile's historic houses set for tourism revival
The northern province of Tokat's Zile district — a settlement founded around 1600 BCE — is drawing great interest with its centuries-old houses that have withstood the test of time. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
110 smuggled artifacts returned to Türkiye this year
Türkiye secured the return of 110 historical artifacts in 2025, bringing the total number of cultural properties repatriated since 1980 to 26,761, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye's Sefertepe dig reveals rare carving of baby wild boar
Archaeologists working in Sefertepe, one of the key Neolithic sites within the wider Tas Tepeler (Stone Mounds) region of southeastern Türkiye, have identified a finely carved depiction of a baby wild boar on the back surface of a grinding stone. Source: Türkiye Today
Bosphorus mansion featured in top Turkish TV series listed for sale at $24.5M
One of the most recognisable waterfront mansions on the Bosphorus, the "Bahai Yalisi" in Istanbul's Kanlica district, has been listed for sale at $24.5 million. Source: Türkiye Today
Antalya's ancient theaters keep gladiator echoes alive in modern tourism [https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/antalyas-ancient-theaters-keep-glad...
Antalya, one of Türkiye's leading destinations for cultural tourism, continues to charm visitors not only with its natural beauty but also with the impressive ancient theaters that once hosted political assemblies, gladiator contests, and theatrical performances. Source: Türkiye Today
December 5, 2025
Karahantepe to welcome visitors with renewed appearance
Karahantepe, one of the key Neolithic settlements in southeastern Türkiye, is preparing to welcome visitors with a renewed look as construction continues on a visitor center, excavation house, sheltering roof, archaeological research facility and redesigned walking route. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
First artists? New discoveries trace humanity's earliest imagery
In the windswept hills overlooking Türkiye's vast southeastern plains, new archaeological discoveries are revealing how life might have looked 11,000 years ago when the world's earliest communities began to emerge. Source: Daily Sabah
Turkish singer faces investigation for breaking instrument on UNESCO site at Nemrut
Singer Aydin Aydin is under investigation after he filmed himself breaking his saz (a traditional stringed instrument) on the 2,100-year-old archaeological site on Mount Nemrut. Source: Türkiye Today
A Seljuk Caravanserai Reveals Rare Mongol and Turkic Tamgas: New Inscriptions Emerge at Çardak
A 13th-century waystation in western Türkiye is drawing fresh attention after the discovery of two highly unusual symbols — the Mongol Ulzii motif and a Turkic tamga associated with Bilge Tonyukuk. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 6, 2025
Türkiye Culture Route Festival 2025 closes with record number of events [https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/turkiye-culture-route-festival-2025...
Türkiye Culture Route Festival 2025 has drawn to a close after a months-long programme that spread across 20 cities, bringing together 9,645 cultural events and 50,400 artists. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the nationwide festival turned the country into an extended cultural route and is now expected to reach 26 cities in 2026. Source: Türkiye Today
Hikers Stumble Upon a Mysterious Underground Mosque of Unknown Date in Batman's Gömek Plateau
What began as a routine nature walk in the rugged highlands of Batman turned into one of the region's most unexpected heritage discoveries in recent years. A group of hikers and local villagers exploring the Gömek Plateau near the dramatic ravine known as Cehennem Deresi happened upon a narrow opening in the rock face. What lay beyond the shadowed entrance was something none of them expected: a remarkably preserved underground structure that appears to function as a small mosque, yet its construction date remains entirely unknown. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 8, 2025
Seven Roman columns to rise again in Amasra after 2,000 years
Archaeologists at the ancient city of Amastris, nestled in the popular Black Sea tourist province of Bartın, are raising seven massive 2nd-century Roman marble columns back to their original places, rebuilding a grand Corinthian portico that will stand again after nearly two millennia underground, with the restored site set to open to visitors in 2026. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Rock paintings with human figures in Türkiye's Kayseri may date back to Neolithic Age
Human figure rock paintings, thought to date back to the Neolithic Age, have been discovered on a rocky hillside in Kayseri in Türkiye, after a local resident noticed unusual markings and decided to alert the authorities. Source: Türkiye Today
Incense burner with Egyptian god Serapis unearthed in ancient city of Ephesus
Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Ephesus in Western Türkiye have uncovered a terracotta incense burner decorated with a relief of the Egyptian god Serapis, adding a new piece to the picture of how trade, religion and craftsmanship came together in this major port city of the Roman world. Source: Türkiye Today
December 9, 2025
Termessos offers sweeping mountain views
Termessos, located within the boundaries of Güllük Mountain National Park in the southern province of Antalya, stands out as a destination where nature and history blend perfectly. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Monumental Urartian gate unearthed at Korzut Castle in eastern Türkiye
Archaeologists working at Korzut Castle in the Muradiye district of Van have uncovered a monumental entrance system leading into the citadel, revealing massive basalt fortification walls and a carefully controlled Urartian defense layout that sheds light on the region's ancient history. Source: Türkiye Today
Rare smiling Medusa unearthed in Türkiye's ancient city founded by Queen Amastris
Archaeologists working in the ancient city of Amastris in the district of Amasra in Bartin have brought to light a rare smiling depiction of Medusa on the ceiling blocks of a monumental Roman stoa, a columned gallery. They say the discovery offers fresh clues about the city's prosperity and cultural life in antiquity. Source: Türkiye Today
41 Anatolian artifacts worth over $8M head back to Türkiye from US
At least 41 historical artifacts of Anatolian origin that were illegally taken out of Türkiye are being returned from the United States, following a handover ceremony in New York that officials say builds on deepening cooperation against the trafficking of cultural property. Source: Türkiye Today
December 10, 2025
Göbeklitepe to boost visitor capacity with new investments
A new welcome center, rest areas, walking paths and expanded parking facilities are under construction at Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage site hailed as the “zero point of history,” with completion expected next year as authorities aim to increase both visitor numbers and site capacity. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Sefertepe artifacts reveal ancient craftsmanship
Materials unearthed at Sefertepe as part of the ongoing Taş Tepeler (Stone Hills) Project in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa are shedding light on the remarkable craftsmanship of communities who lived some 10,500 years ago, particularly in the making of decorative objects. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeologists reveal hidden palace under trading hub of Kultepe in central Turkiye
Kayseri's Kultepe Kanesh-Karum archaeological site, known as “the place where Anatolian trade history began,” has yielded a new discovery that pushes its story even further back in time. During this year's excavations, archaeologists uncovered the remains of another palace directly beneath an already known royal complex, revealing even larger buildings with exceptionally thick walls. Source: Türkiye Today
New visitor center in Sinop to showcase 1,600-year-old mosaics in Türkiye's Black Sea region
A new visitor center is being planned in Türkiye's Black Sea province of Sinop to display 1,600-year-old floor mosaics and other historical artifacts uncovered at the Balatlar Church Complex, a long-running archaeological excavation site in the city. Source: Türkiye Today
Anatolia's only known ‘Good Shepherd' Jesus fresco uncovered in Iznik, crafted in Roman style
A rare depiction of Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” has come to light in a chamber tomb at Hisardere Necropolis in ancient Nicaea (today's Iznik) in Bursa province. The scene is considered the only known example of this type identified to date in Anatolia, and researchers regard it as a highly significant discovery for archaeology in Türkiye and worldwide. Source: Türkiye Today
Rare 4th-century mosaic hall unearthed in Türkiye's ancient Hadrianopolis
Excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in the Turkish Black Sea region province of Karabuk have uncovered a fourth-century AD reception hall featuring rare mosaic designs, scholars said Wednesday. Source: Daily Sabah
December 11, 2025
Ancient grave chest emerges as dam waters recede in eastern Türkiye
As water levels in Keban Dam Lake dropped near the town of Pertek in the eastern Turkish province of Tunceli, museum experts identified a large fragment of a stone grave chest, known in Turkish as a sanduka, on the eastern side of Pertek Fortress. Keban Dam Lake is an artificial reservoir created by a hydroelectric dam, and Pertek Fortress stands today on an island within this lake. Source: Türkiye Today
Archaeologists uncover rare Late Roman reception hall with untouched mosaics in Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Karabuk, northern Türkiye, have brought to light a fourth-century A.D. reception hall decorated with rare mosaic designs, marking a discovery that researchers describe as highly significant for both Black Sea and Anatolian archaeology. Source: Türkiye Today
Gürcütepe's 9,000-Year-Old Figurines Offer Rare Clues to Life After Taş Tepeler's Monumental Age
Just southeast of Şanlıurfa, on the northwestern edge of the vast Harran Plain, a small but exceptionally informative archaeological site is reshaping our understanding of the final phases of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic. Gürcütepe—located only about 4 kilometers from the city center—may not yet carry the global fame of Göbeklitepe or Karahantepe, but new findings reported in Arkeoloji Haber's special coverage reveal that the site holds remarkable clues about how life continued after the monumental age of Taş Tepeler. Source: Arkeonews
Istanbul's historic tombstones enter digital age with nationwide inventory project
Historic Islamic tombstones and inscriptions across Istanbul are starting to be documented one by one, as a new state-backed inventory project seeks to protect the city's layered past and pass its social memory on to future generations. Source: Türkiye Today
December 12, 2025
Virginia Museum returns ancient reliefs to Türkiye as investigators confirm looting
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond has returned 41 polychrome terracotta relief fragments to Türkiye after an investigation by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office confirmed that the objects came from an illegally excavated Phrygian temple. Source: Türkiye Today
'Troy' themed exhibition set to bring Türkiye-Italy cultural partnership back to Rome in 2026
Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced that a “Troy” themed exhibition will be staged in Rome in 2026 in cooperation with Italy, marking the next step in a cultural partnership that has recently included major shows at the Colosseum. Source: Türkiye Today
Archaeologists uncover Hellenistic goddess head revealing Türkiye's Metropolis sculpture secrets
Archaeologists in the ancient city of Metropolis near Izmir have brought to light a marble sculpture head believed to date to the Hellenistic period, saying it may have belonged to a monumental statue of the goddess Hestia and may reshape how experts look at local craftsmanship in this era. Source: Türkiye Today
Tas Tepeler teams uncover ritual, daily life across Sanliurfa's Neolithic sites
A cluster of 12 active excavation sites across a roughly 100-square-kilometer zone in Sanliurfa is being used to piece together new details about the Neolithic period, the era when communities began to settle down and shift toward producing food. Source: Türkiye Today
December 13, 2025
Restoration of the Temple of Zeus Lepsynos at Euromos Enters Its Final Phase
On a quiet hillside near Milas in southwestern Türkiye, one of Anatolia's best-preserved Roman temples is undergoing a transformation that will reshape how the ancient city of Euromos is experienced. Restoration work at the Temple of Zeus Lepsynos, led by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is now advancing toward completion, with the project expected to conclude in 2026. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 14, 2025
For centuries, the defeat of the Crusader armies in Anatolia in 1101 has been known largely through fragmented medieval chronicles. Now, new archaeological and historical research in northern Anatolia is transforming that narrative. Scholars working in the Amasya–Merzifon region say they have identified the precise route taken by the Crusaders—and the strategic fortress where their advance collapsed—offering fresh insight into how Sultan Kilij Arslan I engineered one of the most decisive defeats of the early Crusades. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 15, 2025
Spiritual anniversary of Rumi attracts visitors to Mevlana Museum in central Türkiye
As part of the international events marking the 752nd anniversary of the death of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, a large number of visitors have been gathering at the Mevlana Museum in Konya, underscoring the enduring global interest in the 13th-century Sufi thinker. Source: Türkiye Today
Searchable Bronze Age database sheds new light on ancient Western Anatolia
A newly released open-access digital database bringing together 483 Bronze Age settlement sites in western Anatolia is expected to help researchers clear up long-standing gaps in knowledge about one of the ancient world's least understood regions, which once sat between the Aegean and the Near East more than 3,000 years ago. Source: Türkiye Today
Roman-era marble bathtub reused as fountain trough unearthed in Ephesus
Archaeologists working in the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Ephesus have uncovered a finely crafted Roman marble bathtub that was later repurposed as a fountain trough, alongside a male statue reused as road paving. The discoveries were made during ongoing excavations along ancient stadium street, offering rare insight into how luxury household objects were adapted for practical use in later phases of the city. Source: Türkiye Today
December 16, 2025
Serencay Canyon reveals layers of ancient life in southwest Türkiye
Serencay Canyon, which stretches between the villages of Gunalan and Askeriye in the Burdur province of Türkiye, stands out for its dramatic natural formation and cave settlements that carry clear traces of early human use. The site, long known locally as Teke Sarayi and sometimes called Kadife Kale or “Velvet Castle,” preserves rock-cut dwellings and burial spaces that specialists believe date back to the fourth or sixth century CE, a period associated with the Late Roman or Early Christian era. Source: Türkiye Today
Mysterious Spherical Stones Found Near the Iraq Border in Eastern Türkiye Remain Unexplained
Unusually shaped spherical stones uncovered during road construction works in eastern Türkiye remain scientifically unexplained three years after their discovery, prompting renewed calls for formal academic investigation. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 18, 2025
Sculpted Faces from Ancient Lykos Meet Visitors in Denizli
Stone faces shaped nearly two thousand years ago are once again meeting the public—this time in modern-day Denizli. A new exhibition titled “Faces of Lykos” has opened its doors, bringing together some of the most striking sculptural finds uncovered in the ancient cities of western Anatolia. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
A 3,000-Year-Old Rock-Cut Toilet in the Phrygian Valley Is Attracting Visitors' Attention
In the heart of western Anatolia, the Phrygian Valley continues to surprise visitors not only with its monumental rock façades and ancient sanctuaries, but also with striking details from everyday life. One of the most talked-about features in recent years is a 3,000-year-old rock-cut toilet, carved into a multi-story structure in the Ayazini area of the valley, now drawing growing interest from both tourists and researchers. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 19, 2025
12 excavation sites in Türkiye's southeast redefine Neolithic era
The veil over the Neolithic era is gradually being lifted through a series of large-scale excavations in southern Türkiye, where archaeologists are uncovering new clues about the origins of settled human life. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Drought exposes Byzantine ruins in Sapanca Lake, eastern Marmara's lifeline
As water levels recede in Türkiye's Sapanca Lake, an islet has surfaced with architectural remains that may point to a strategic Byzantine-era structure. Archaeologists working under the Sakarya Museum Directorate are now carrying out rescue excavations, as the find raises the possibility that the lake once played a far more active role in regional transport, surveillance, and trade than previously assumed. Source: Türkiye Today
How Neolithic houses became cradles for dead in Anatolia and Balkans
New comparative research shows that at two late seventh-millennium BCE communities — Barcin Hoyuk in western Anatolia and Lepenski Vir in the central Balkans — infants were consistently buried in close association with houses and architectural features, while adults were buried in open spaces. Source: Türkiye Today
Amasya dig turns up 2,600-year-old clay oven revealing agricultural treasure from Anatolia
A 2,600-year-old tandir, a clay oven used for baking and slow-cooking across Anatolia and the Middle East, was uncovered this season at the Oluz Hoyuk (Mound) excavations in Amasya, Türkiye. The find, announced by excavation director Professor Sevket Donmez, has been described as an agricultural treasure because it ties a single, familiar cooking unit directly to practices still seen in the region today. Source: Türkiye Today
Not Italian, but Anatolian: The Marble of Otto the Great's Sarcophagus Traced to Marmara Island
For centuries, the monumental tomb of Otto I, known as Otto the Great, has stood at the heart of Magdeburg Cathedral as one of Europe's most powerful symbols of medieval authority. Now, new scientific analyses have revealed that a crucial element of this imperial monument is not European at all, but Anatolian in origin. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 20, 2025
Türkiye repatriates rare antiquities from US
Türkiye has completed the repatriation of a group of cultural artifacts from the United States, including a monumental bronze imperial statue originating from Boubon, a Roman-era portrait of Demosthenes, a marble column capital depicting Archangel Michael and rare artifacts from the Urartian and Lydian civilizations. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeologists uncover oldest known section of Diyarbakır city walls
Archaeological excavations at the Artuklu Palace within the İçkale complex in the southern province of Diyarbakır have revealed a previously buried section of the city walls. The newly uncovered wall segment, which had remained underground for nearly a century, measures 1.35 meters in height and 17 meters in length and is believed to date back to the Hurrian period. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Underground church, Mithraeum set for restoration at Türkiye's Zerzevan Castle
Restoration work at Zerzevan Castle, a strategic Roman frontier fortress in southeastern Türkiye, is set to broaden next year to include the underground church, the Mithras sacred area (Mithraeum), the arsenal and the defensive walls, according to the excavation team leading the site. Source: Türkiye Today
At the ancient city of Termessos, one of the most dramatic mountain strongholds of ancient Anatolia, a 2,000-year-old lion-headed gargoyle has been found broken, raising renewed concerns about the protection of archaeological heritage sites in Türkiye. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 22, 2025
Ancient mosaic unearthed during post-quake excavations in Hatay
A Late Antique floor mosaic with a Greek inscription has been uncovered during foundation excavation works in the southern province of Hatay, revealing another layer of the region's heritage in the aftermath of the devastating 2023 earthquakes. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye's ‘102 Exhibitions' attract over 8.5 mln visitors nationwide
The exhibition “Ancient Faces of the Lykos,” showcasing 52 archaeological artifacts unearthed from ancient cities in western Türkiye, has opened to the public in Denizli as the final event of the nationwide “102 Exhibitions” to mark the 102nd anniversary of modern Türkiye. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient staircase linking Nysa main street to library unearthed in western Türkiye
Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Nysa in western Türkiye have uncovered an approximately 1,800-year-old stone staircase that once provided direct access from the city's main street to its renowned Roman-era library, one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in western Anatolia. Source: Türkiye Today
December 23, 2025
Excavations revive Hadrianopolis, the 'Zeugma of Black Sea'
The ancient city of Hadrianopolis in the Eskipazar district of Karabük in northern Türkiye continues to captivate visitors with its historic architecture and rich cultural heritage following the completion of extensive excavation and restoration work. Source: Daily Sabah
Yedikule Fortress' Treasury Tower enters major restoration phase
Restoration work has officially begun at the Treasury Tower of the Yedikule Fortress, a historic structure in Istanbul that once served as a secure repository for Ottoman state treasury and war spoils. The project is being carried out by the Fatih Municipality as part of a wider conservation effort at one of the city's most significant heritage sites. Source: Türkiye Today
Rare Turkic inscription found in southern Kazakhstan redraws early Oghuz history
A previously unpublished stone inscription discovered in southern Kazakhstan is now reshaping what is known about early Oghuz history and the use of writing before the medieval period. Identified in August 2025 at a small local museum in the village of Orangay, near the city of Turkistan, the find provides rare physical evidence that the Oghuz people were already using a written language centuries before Oghuz Turkish began to be written in the Arabic script. Source: Türkiye Today
December 24, 2025
Türkiye's Topkapi Palace unveils new tile art gallery along historic Mabeyn route
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul has opened a new permanent exhibition space, the Mabeyn Route Tile Art Gallery, inside a historic corridor that once linked the imperial reception area (Mabeyn) with the Imperial Harem. Source: Türkiye Today
December 25, 2025
Excavations begin at ancient Rabat Castle in Mardin, southeastern Türkiye
Archaeological excavations have begun at Rabat Castle in the southeastern Turkish province of Mardin, marking the first systematic dig at one of the region's best-preserved historical sites. Source: Türkiye Today
Women revive Germanicia mosaics
Mosaics discovered at the ancient city of Germanicia in Kahramanmaraş are being brought back to life through the work of women attending a handicrafts course at a local public education center. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
December 26, 2025
Villagers Used Stones from a Zeus Temple to Build Their Homes
In northern Anatolia, the remains of an ancient Roman sanctuary have resurfaced in a way few would expect. In the Daday district of Kastamonu, villagers once took stones from a temple dedicated to Zeus and reused them in the construction of their homes, embedding fragments of a sacred monument into everyday domestic architecture. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 27, 2025
The Only Known City of the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Tabal Stands on Mount Göllü in Central Anatolia
Around 2,800 years ago, the Neo-Hittite Kingdom of Tabal emerged as one of the successor states that reshaped central Anatolia following the collapse of the Hittite Empire. Today, the only archaeologically identified urban center attributed to this kingdom occupies an exceptional location: the summit of Mount Göllü, within the borders of Kömürcü village in Niğde Province. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 28, 2025
Column of Arcadius: “The Roman Column That Fed Istanbul”
Rising once above the seventh hill of Constantinople like a carved chronicle in stone, the Column of Arcadius—known in Turkish as Arkadyos Sütunu or Avrat Taşı—was more than a monumental victory marker. In the centuries after its construction, it became the subject of folklore, miracle tales, and Ottoman–era curiosity. Source: Arkeonews
2,500-Year-Old Carian Rock-Cut Tomb in Marmaris Placed Under Protection
A 2,500-year-old rock-cut tomb in Marmaris, southwestern Türkiye, has been formally secured under heritage protection following a conservation-focused intervention led by local authorities and academic specialists. The monument, known as the Yeşilbelde Rock Tomb, has been registered as a protected cultural asset and stabilized against environmental and structural risks. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 29, 2025
Historic mosque in Türkiye's Kastamonu built 'without nails' continues to stand over a century
The 126-year-old Esederesi Mosque, located in Pasakoy, Kastamonu, continues to stand as a striking example of traditional wooden architecture, distinguished by its nail-free construction and intricate craftsmanship. Source: Türkiye Today
Rare 1,800-Year-Old Domed Roman Tomb Unearthed in Southeastern Anatolia
An archaeological discovery in southeastern Anatolia has brought to light a rare and architecturally sophisticated funerary structure. In the rural landscape of Besni, a district of Adıyaman, museum experts have identified a domed tomb chamber dating to the 2nd century CE—approximately 1,800 years ago—marking one of the most notable funerary finds ever recorded in the province. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
December 30, 2025
Maritime exhibition area opens at Troy Museum
A new Maritime Exhibition Area has opened at the Troy Museum in Çanakkale, showcasing a full-scale replica ship inspired by Homer's epics and built using techniques from the Trojan era. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Amastris to open with archaeological site status
Following the discovery of a 2,000-year-old Roman-era stoa (colonnaded gallery), efforts are underway to designate the ancient city of Amastris in the northern province of Bartın's Amasra district as an official archaeological site, paving the way for it to be opened to visitors. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Anatolia's First Phoenician Find: Human-Faced Glass Beads and Baby Jar Burials Unearthed
Archaeological excavations at Oluz Höyük in Amasya, north-central Türkiye, have revealed rare evidence of Phoenician presence deep inside Anatolia, including human-faced glass beads believed to have originated from Carthage and a group of baby burials placed inside ceramic jars. Researchers say the discovery is unlike anything previously documented in the region and may reflect cultural practices associated with the broader Phoenician world. Source: Arkeonews
180 illegally exported cultural artifacts returned to Türkiye in 2025
Türkiye recovered 180 cultural artifacts in 2025 that had been taken abroad through illegal means, marking another milestone in the country’s long-running effort to reclaim its cultural heritage, according to Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. Source: Türkiye Today
December 31, 2025
Silver Necklace with Eight-Pointed Star and Ishtar Symbol Discovered at Amos Ancient City in Türkiye
A striking archaeological discovery has been made in Türkiye’s southwestern Muğla province, where excavations at the Amos Ancient City in Marmaris have revealed a silver necklace believed to depict the Assyrian goddess Ishtar. The jewelry piece features a lion motif and an eight-pointed star — powerful symbols historically associated with the revered goddess of love, war, and fertility in the ancient Near East. Source: Arkeonews
Over 2,000-year-old Paphlagonian tumulus awaits visitors in northern Türkiye
A nearly 2,100-year-old burial mound in northern Türkiye has been opened to visitors following rescue excavations, local officials said. Source: Anadolu Ajansı
Restoration completed for 73 quake-hit sites
The General Directorate of Foundations under the Culture and Tourism Ministry has completed the restoration of 73 foundation-owned cultural assets damaged in the Feb. 6, 2023, earthquakes, with restoration and repair work continuing on 176 sites. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
7,500-year-old stone seal discovered in eastern Türkiye reshapes Elazig’s ancient past
Archaeological excavations at Tadim Fortress and Hoyuk (Mound) in eastern Türkiye have brought to light a stone seal estimated to be around 7,500 years old, offering rare evidence that organized settlement and social structures in the Elazig region date back to the Neolithic period. Source: Türkiye Today
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