February 2016 in Turkish archaeology

Temple of Augustus and Rome in Ankara
Temple of Augustus and Rome in Ankara

Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for February 2016. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!

Feb 2, 2016

Muğla's historic structures threatened by trees, plants

The unique houses at the ancient site of Kayaköy in western Muğla province are being threatened by the trees and plants growing in, on and around them, officials warn. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 3, 2016

Archaeologists find Bronze Age shipwreck off Turkey’s southwest

Underwater works carried out by Dokuz Eylül University since 2007 have unearthed one of the oldest shipwrecks ever found in Turkey’s seas. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Ministry launches projects to restore ancient Roman temple

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has launched plans for several projects to restore the ancient 2,000-year-old Roman temple called the Temple of Augustus and Rome in Ankara. Source: Today's Zaman

Feb 4, 2016

Hasankeyf not submitted to UNESCO

Mechtild Rössler, the director of both UNESCO’s Division for Heritage and World Heritage Center, has declared Turkey did not apply for the inclusion of the ancient city of Hasankeyf on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 5, 2016

Archaeologists Unearth More — a Lot More — of a Massive Underground City

In 2013, construction crews in the city of Nevşehir, in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, were demolishing low-income housing ringing a Byzantine castle when they unearthed something astonishing: entrances to a massive underground city. Source: Mental Floss

Feb 7, 2016

Fragments of history revealed during Ertuğrul excavations

Excavations conducted in the area where the Ottoman frigate Ertuğrul sank continue to shed light on its history. Underwater archaeologists aim to reach the captain's safe, hoping to find further details of the events that led to the sinking of the frigate. Source: Daily Sabah

Feb 9, 2016

Last Byzantine church in Ankara close to disappearing

The Orthodox church of Saint Clement, which was built at least 1,000 years ago in Ankara and is the only Byzantine-era structure in the city, has almost disappeared among office buildings. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Buried clay mask reveals ancient locals' enthusiasm about theater

A 2,000-year-old burial chamber has been discovered near the archaeological site of Tralleis during the first day of a drilling project led by the Aydın Museum to preserve the protected area. Source: Daily Sabah

Feb 11, 2016

Spray painted tomb to be cleaned by experts

Spray-painted names and hearts on the walls of the historic Berberkaya tomb in the northwestern province of Bursa’s İznik district will be cleaned by a team of experts. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 12, 2016

Ertuğrul excavations continue to reveal history

Uniforms of dead soldiers are among the many other artifacts found during this year’s works in the Ertuğrul frigate that commenced on Jan 15. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 14, 2016

Istanbul’s historical Haydarpaşa building to remain a train station

Istanbul’s historical Haydarpaşa Train Station will remain as a train station and go into service as the first station of Turkey’s under-construction fast train network, according to plans approved by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 15, 2016

Huge pithos caught by fishermen

An ancient Greek storage container weighing nearly 300-kilograms was caught in the fishing net of a boat in the Black Sea province of Trabzon. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Underground city comes to surface

The details of an underground city unearthed in late 2014 in Turkey’s touristic town of Cappadocia in the Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir have come to the surface, as excavations at the site continue. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 16, 2016

Thirty-nine artifacts returned to Turkey in 2015

Some 39 artifacts were repatriated to Turkey in 2015, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry has announced. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 24, 2016

Ancient city Magnesia in western Turkey submerged once again

The ancient city of Magnesia, where excavations have been ongoing for 30 years, remains underwater after rainfall over the weekend submerged parts of the excavated site. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Feb 25, 2016

Istanbul's Riva Castle to be restored

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has pushed the button on the restoration of Riva Castle, situated on Istanbul’s Black Sea coast. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Iron-Age Woman & Child Were Buried With Turtles

A burial at Kavuşan Höyük, a mound near the Tigris River, contained the 2,500-year-old remains of a woman aged between 45 and 55 years, and a six- or seven-year-old child. Source: Archaeology. A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America