January 2016 in Turkish archaeology

Göbekli Tepe
Göbekli Tepe

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

Jan 1, 2016

Ancient road uncovered in Turkey’s Tarsus

Works at an archaeological site in the southern province of Mersin’s historical Tarsus district have unearthed an ancient road. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 5, 2016

Traces of ancient life at Hatay Archaeology Museum

Now in its new location, 40 percent of the Hatay Archaeology Museum is open to visitors, displaying thousands of artifacts dating back to the Stone Age. When the second stage is finished next year, it will have the largest mosaic display area. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Footprints among top Yenikapı excavations

While taking the known history of Istanbul back to 8,500 years ago, the Yenikapı excavations have unearthed a raft of historical artifacts that have drawn the world’s attention to archaeology in Turkey. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 7, 2016

Iconic library in Istanbul a treasure trove for history buffs with its Ottoman archival database

The Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture has developed an optical character recognition tool for the Ottoman Turkish alphabet, which will enable readers to scan text and convert it to a Microsoft Word file. Source: Daily Sabah

Jan 9, 2016

Arkas Arts Center displays testimonials of Anatolian antiquity

İzmir’s Arkas Art Center, a private museum housed in the building of the İzmir’s Honorary French Consulate, displays the internationally-renowned collection of coins and historical objects of İzmir businessman Muharrem Kayhan. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 11, 2016

Muğla’s ancient sites, museums increasingly popular among tourists

Museums and ancient sites in the western province of Muğla were visited by nearly 850,000 people last year, with the revenue from these visits topping 6 million Turkish Liras. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 13, 2016

Sagalassos artifacts enchant visitors

Artifacts unearthed during excavations at the ancient city of Sagalassos in the southern province of Burdur’s Ağlasun district and put on display at the Burdur Archaeology Museum draw thousands of visitors every year. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 14, 2016

Gate of historic mosque causes restoration scandal in Antalya

During the restoration of the 800-year-old Alaaddin Mosque in the southern province of Antalya’s Korkuteli district, the structure’s crown gate, a rare example of stone masonry, has been broken into pieces. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 19, 2016

City of gladiators presents 3-D feast

The ancient city of Stratonikeia welcomes its visitors with its structures reimagined with 3-D technology. The head of the excavations speaks about the future and past work in the city. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 20, 2016

Bad weather prevents excavations

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Laodicea, located in the western province of Denizli, have been put on hiatus until March 1 over cold and rainy weather conditions in the region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

World's Oldest Temple to Be Restored

The world’s oldest monuments may soon get an image makeover. A new project will promote and preserve Göbekli Tepe, home to the most ancient temple structures ever discovered. Source: National Geographic

Ancient coins found at underwater basilica in Bursa

Archaeological works are still continuing in the ancient Roman-era basilica discovered at the beginning of 2015 under Lake İznik in Turkey’s northwestern province of Bursa. Forty bronze coins have been found recently in the basilica. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 21, 2016

New findings at Çatalhöyük

Archaeological excavations at the ancient settlement of Çatalhöyük continued in 2015, with a rare human face-like plaster head among the most exciting finds, according to excavation head Prof. Ian Hodder. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 26, 2016

Historic church discovered in Turkey’s Nevşehir ‘could change history of Orthodoxy’

Another historical church has been discovered underground during excavations in Turkey’s Cappadocia region, with experts saying the frescoes inside could change the history of Orthodoxy. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 27, 2016

Archaeology makes use of laser technology

Artifacts of the ancient city of Kibyra can be seen in the digitally thanks to a laser technology project initiated by Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 28, 2016

Historic castle cleansed of graffiti

Graffiti spray-painted by vandals on the famous Amasa Castle in the Black Sea province of Bartın has been removed with a low-pressure sandblasting machine after causing outrage among both tourists and locals in the northern Turkish city. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 29, 2016

Byzantine church unearthed in Burdur to reveal unknown about Christianity

A six-gate rock church that is home to wall paintings featuring Christian icons has been unearthed in the southern province of Burdur’s Bucak district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Zengibar Castle to open to tourism

Zengibar Castle, located among the remains of ancient Isaura in the Central Anatolian province of Konya, which is considered the Ephesus of the region, will soon open to tourism. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Jan 31, 2016

4,000 year-old shipwreck belonging to Minoans found in Turkey

Turkish researchers have discovered a 4,000 year-old shipwreck in Marmaris Hisarönü Gulf in the Mediterranean, as part of an ongoing project carried out by Dokuz Eylül University's Marine Sciences Institute since 2007. Source: Daily Sabah