The beginning of 2022 brought some major archaeological discoveries in the area of Turkey. In the ancient city of Perre, located in the southeastern province of Adiyaman, archaeologists uncovered a bronze military diploma dating back 2000 years. In the ancient city of Kastabala, located in Turkey's southern province of Osmaniye, relief masks were unearthed on the architectural blocks of the theater. Moreover, historical graves were found during a foundation excavation at a construction site near the ancient city of Antandros, located in the Edremit district of Turkey's western Balıkesir province.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for January 2022. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
January 2, 2022
Newly found ancient road to serve tourism
Works have been initiated to bring the ancient road, discovered after 1,700 years, to tourism in the ancient city of Pompeiopolis, located in the northern province of Kastamonu’s Taşköprü district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Homecoming set for Turkish artifacts smuggled to US
Turkey's fight to repatriate relics smuggled abroad continues to pay off, with the artifacts surrendered by U.S. billionaire Michael Steinhardt after a legal battle set to soon join the thousands of pieces to return home over the last year. Source: Daily Sabah
A 2000-year-old bronze military diploma was discovered in Turkey’s Perre ancient city
During excavations in the ancient city of Perre, located in the southeastern Turkish province of Adiyaman, archaeologists uncovered a bronze military diploma dating back 2000 years. Source: Arkeonews
January 4, 2022
Teams bring smuggled cultural assets to Turkey
The teams of the Anti-Smuggling Department of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, affiliated with the Culture and Tourism Ministry, are working hard to return the smuggled Anatolian-origin artifacts to Turkey. As a result of the works carried out in 2021, 3,480 artifacts were returned to Turkey. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 5, 2022
14th-century inscription found on Turkey’s Giresun Island
On Giresun Island, which is 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) off the Turkish province of Giresun on the Black Sea’s southeastern shore, a 14th-century inscription was discovered. i>Source: Arkeonews
January 6, 2022
Comedy, tragedy masks found in Turkey’s ancient city of Kastabala
In the ancient city of Kastabala, located in Turkey's southern province of Osmaniye, relief masks were unearthed on the architectural blocks of the theater. The masks depict comedy and tragedy plays performed in that period. Source: Daily Sabah
January 7, 2022
Documents reveal history of Troy Museum
In a research conducted by Troy Museum (former Çanakkale Museum) officials into the state archives, a document revealed that one of the oldest public institutions in the city is the Çanakkale Museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s ‘Iron Church’ stands strong on 124th anniversary
Reopened in 2018 after a comprehensive restoration, Istanbul's iconic "Iron Church" marks its 124th year as the world's only surviving completely iron church. The Bulgarian Church of Sveti Stefan has been attracting the attention of those who cross the Golden Horn for decades with its interesting structure and eclectic architecture. Source: Daily Sabah
Roman-era sarcophagi unearthed in Turkey's Black Sea region
Archaeologists have unearthed several sarcophagi and historical artifacts from the ancient Roman era during excavations in Ordu on the Black Sea coast of Turkiye. Source: Daily Sabah
January 8, 2022
Artifacts to be displayed in “archeo-park’ near Selimiye Mosque
All historical artifacts unearthed in excavation sites nearby the Selimiye Mosque in the northwestern province of Edirne will be displayed in an “archeo-park,” which is currently under construction. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 9, 2022
Centuries-old graves found near Turkey’s ancient city Antandros
Historical graves were found during a foundation excavation at a construction site near the ancient city of Antandros, located in the Edremit district of Turkey's western Balıkesir province. Source: Daily Sabah
January 10, 2022
Ottoman-era Ishak Pasha Palace may feature central heating system
In the 238-year-old Ishak Pasha Palace, one of the most important works of the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia, researchers believe the traces of a "central heating system" have been found. Source: Daily Sabah
Mosaic made by freed slave to thank God found in Turkey’s Hatay
A mosaic made by a freed slave to thank God for his emancipation was unearthed during the excavation at the 6th-century Church of the Holy Apostles in southern Hatay province. Source: Daily Sabah
January 11, 2022
Turkey’s archaeology institute to reveal archaic Anatolian history
A new archaeological institute in southeastern Turkey’s Gaziantep is primed to shed light on the ancient history of Anatolia. The new Turkish Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Institute will provide great insights into the rich past of ancient Turkish lands, where countless civilizations sprouted and perished throughout history. Source: Daily Sabah
January 12, 2022
Ancient ampulla found in the ancient city of Dara
A 1,400-year-old ampulla (a glass or terracotta bottle in Rome) with the figure of Saint Menas has been found in the ancient city of Dara in the southeastern province of Mardin. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 14, 2022
Anatolia’s largest olive oil factory unearthed
A Roman-era olive oil factory has been unearthed during excavations in the İskenderun district of Hatay. Source: Arkeonews
January 15, 2022
Miners uncover 195 million-year-old megalodon fossil in Turkey
Some workers mining in a marble quarry in Turkey's Mediterranean resort city of Antalya discovered fossils of an extinct shark megalodon that lived 195 million years ago. Source: Daily Sabah
January 16, 2022
500-year-old Turkish bridge standing despite floods, earthquakes
A 500-year-old historical bridge in northwestern Turkey's Dilovası district built by the legendary Ottoman architect Sinan and located on the route used for expeditions to Baghdad and Anatolia during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent has been standing strong for centuries without being damaged. Thanks to its architectural features, even deadly floods and earthquakes couldn't bring it down. Source: Daily Sabah
January 18, 2022
Historic lighthouse in Istanbul reopened after works
A historic lighthouse located in Istanbul’s far northeast has been reopened following comprehensive restoration works. Commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I and constructed in 1859 by French engineers, the lighthouse overlooking the Black Sea from the northern slopes of the Turkish metropolis had been non-stop in service until August 2020. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
History of Turkey’s Beçin revealed with radar, drones
Artifacts are unearthed during the year-round excavations in the ancient city of Beçin, which is located in the Milas district of Turkey’s Aegean Muğla province. Underground radar and drones are also used in the archaeological studies to shed light on the history of the ancient city. Source: Daily Sabah
January 21, 2022
Hisart Museum to reopen with new face
The Hisart Live History Museum, which houses 1,500-year-old historical artifacts in Istanbul’s Kağıthane district, will reopen on Feb. 1 after a renovation process. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 24, 2022
Turkish province Hatay’s mosaics on display abroad
Some 200 mosaics unearthed in the southern province of Hatay during archaeological excavations conducted by a commission set up before 1939, the year when the city joined the Turkish Republic, are exhibited abroad, as the artifacts found were shared among the commission members, says Hatice Pamir from Mustafa Kemal University’s Archaeology Department. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 25, 2022
Jewish heritage revived: 9 synagogues in Izmir to reopen as museum
Built by Sephardic Jews who immigrated from Spain to Anatolia, nine synagogues in the Kemeraltı quarter of the Aegean province of Izmir will soon welcome visitors as an open-air museum. Source: Daily Sabah
January 26, 2022
1400-year-old artifacts discovered in the ancient city of Uzuncaburç (Diocaesarea)
During the excavations carried out in a tower in the ancient city of Uzuncaburç (Diocaesarea) in Mersin province in the south of Turkey, 19 artifacts of 1400 years old were unearthed. A skeleton was also found alongside preserved artifacts, including a necklace, pendant, earring, amulet (amulet), tubular bracelet, and breast chain. Source: Arkeonews
January 27, 2022
Polish diplomat in Turkey unravels mystery of long-lost ancient city
A curious Polish diplomat used a unique method of "histracking" to finally find the location of the lost ancient city of Thebasa in south-central Anatolia. Robert D. Rokicki, a diplomat at the Polish Embassy in Ankara, found Thebasa in 2021 in the Pinarkaya village of southern Karaman province. Source: Daily Sabah
January 28, 2022
Magnesia: 'City of races' home to best-preserved stadium in Anatolia
The ancient city of Magnesia, which is located in the Germencik district of Turkey's western Aydın province, was known as the “city of races” and attracted many visitors due to the plethora of sporting events organized here in antiquity. The ancient city still finds a place for itself on the travel bucket list of many, drawing in visitors with its magnificent stadium where athletic games, gladiatorial fights and chariot races were held in the past. Source: Daily Sabah
January 29, 2022
2000-year-old passage found after Latrina at Smyrna Theater
Archaeologists discovered a 2,000-year-old passage that was 26 meters long and constructed in an “L” form in the theater part of the ancient city of Smyrna, in the center of Izmir in western Turkey. Source: Arkeonews
January 30, 2022
Turkish museum among best museum buildings in last 100 years
A museum in Turkey’s Central Anatolian province of Eskişehir has been included in the list of the 25 best museum buildings of the last century by ARTnews, a New York-based leading art journal. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
January 31, 2022
Pieces of cult statues removed from Claros
During the ongoing excavation works in Claros, located in İzmir and considered as the oldest oracle center in the world, some pieces of monumental statues of Apollo, Artemis and Leto have come to light. The pieces have been moved to an area where conservation works will be carried out. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
