Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for July 2017. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
July 7, 2017
Sultans’ bath a surprising find atop Takkeli Mountain
A bath used by the Seljuk sultans has been uncovered in a castle on Takkeli Mountain in the Central Anatolian province of Konya, which was once the capital of the Anatolian Seljuk state and is home to 5,000-year-old walls and cisterns. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 8, 2017
Rivalry in Turkey’s ancient cities
The statements in the basilica of the Smyrna Agora, the last ancient city in İzmir, reveals the historic rivalry among the ancient cities of Ephesus, Sardis and Tralleis. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 10, 2017
Ancient ruins of Aphrodisias in Turkey added to UNESCO World Heritage list
The Aphrodisias archaeology site in southwestern Turkey has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement issued Sunday. Source: Daily Sabah
July 11, 2017
Excavation works resume on 2,100-year-old marble statue of Cybele in northern Turkey
Archeologists have resumed their efforts to excavate a marble sculpture of Cybele, the mother goddess, in northern Turkey's Ordu province located on the Black Sea coast. Source: Daily Sabah
Phaselis: Unique combination of history, nature
Turkey's antique city of Phaselis in Antalya's Kemer district attracts both local and overseas tourists with its historical ruins, stunning beach and natural beauty. Source: Daily Sabah
July 14, 2017
New excavation season starts in ancient Sagalassos
Excavation and restoration work has resumed in the ancient city of Sagalassos in the southern city of Burdur’s Ağlasun district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 15, 2017
Excavation works in ancient Karkamış end
A Turkish-Italian team has completed the first part of their seven-season-long excavation works in an ancient site in the town of Karkamış, located in the province of Gaziantep on the Turkish-Syrian border, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on July 14. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 17, 2017
Excavations in SE Turkey reveal afterlife beliefs in Pre-Pottery Neolithic period
Excavations in the southeastern Turkey's Mardin province revealed information about how people living in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period view the afterlife as well as their burial traditions. Source: Daily Sabah
World's first smiley discovered on 4,000 year-old pot in Turkey
Archaeologists in southeast Turkey may have found the earliest example of the world's most popular emoticon, the smiley, on a pot dating back 4,000-years. Source: Daily Sabah
July 18, 2017
Carved stone monastery open for tourism
Located in Giresun's Şebinkarahisar district, the Virgin Mary Monastery is now open to visitors. Source: Daily Sabah
Ancient Sebastapolis faces illegal excavations
Dating back to the first century B. C., the ancient city of Sebastapolis is thought to have been one of the five largest cities in the Black Sea region about 2,000 years ago. Once visited by Charles Prince of Wales, the site now faces illegal excavations due to expropriation problems. Source: Daily Sabah
10,000 years of history to be uncovered in Mardin
The Mardin Museum has initiated archaeological excavations in Boncuklu Tarla, the earliest known human settlement in Mardin. Source: Daily Sabah
July 20, 2017
1,800-year-old mosaic found in Perge
The head of excavations being conducted in the ancient city of Perge in Antalya province, Antalya Museum Director Mustafa Demirel, has announced that a new mosaic has been found in the ancient city. The 1,800-year-old mosaic depicts the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the daughter of King Agamemnon in Greek mythology, during the Trojan War. Source: Daily Sabah
Archaeologists delicately excavate 5,000-year-old pottery
Under excavation since 1993, Çatal Höyük, an ancient 5,000-year-old settlement in central Turkey, will be worked 50 more years by archaeologists. Source: Daily Sabah
July 21, 2017
1,800-year-old mosaic found in ancient city of Perge
A 1,800-year-old mosaic, which showed the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra during the Trojan War in Greek mythology, was found at excavation works in the ancient city of Perge in Turkey’s Mediterranean region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 23, 2017
Excavation work started in Black Sea's Ephesus
This year's excavation works in the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium in Konuralp district in Düzce, which is known as "Western Black Sea's Ephesus," have started. Source: Daily Sabah
July 24, 2017
2,700 year-old healing water discovered in Parion ancient city in Turkey's Çanakkale
A 2,700-year-old water well, one of the nine ancient wells located in Turkey's Çanakkale province, still provides the essential drink that is considered as the "source of life," with special "healing properties" and is attributed to be the source of beauty in the region. Source: Daily Sabah
Göbeklitepe prepares for key UNESCO visit
Officials have been spending last-minute efforts as the Göbeklitepe archeological site in Turkey’s southeast, one of the leading historic values of the country, prepares to be nominated for UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2018 ahead of a delegation visit in September. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 25, 2017
2,000-year-old empty tombs unearthed in Uşak
2000-year-old tombs were discovered during a road excavation in the Uşak province. The 33 tombs are thought to be built for those who died during battles as there are no remains in them. Source: Daily Sabah
World's 'oldest brand' discovered at ancient city in southern Turkey
A team of researchers in Turkey's southern Antalya province have found what may have been the first example of a brand, inscribed on a number of ancient mosaics and terracottas dating over 2,000 years old. Source: Daily Sabah
July 26, 2017
Remnants of ancient Byzantine chapel, Roman mosaics unearthed in Kilis
Archaeologists said Wednesday that they have found remnants of a 1,600-year-old Byzantine chapel in the Elbeyli district of Kilis, in southern Turkey. Source: Daily Sabah
July 27, 2017
Ancient granaries reveal history of grape production
Many granaries from 3,500 years ago have been unearthed in the western province of Manisa. The granaries were found in the eight-hectare Gölmarmara Kaymakçı settlement dating back to the early Bronze Age. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Historical Rumkale to be reintroduced to tourism
Rumkale, which has been home to various civilizations throughout history and rumored to be a place where copies of the Bible were reproduced, is going to be reintroduced to tourism upon the completion of the restoration works in the area. Source: Daily Sabah
A 10-meter mosaic, which was found by a farmer in the southeastern province of Adıyaman’s Besni district, will be taken to the Gaziantep Museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 29, 2017
Sealed potteries found in ancient city in Turkey's Antalya
Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Antiocheia Ad Cragum in the southern province of Antalya’s Gazipaşa district have unearthed ceramic pottery pieces with the seal “ANT.” Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Excavation start at Turkey's Uzuncaburç
Archaeological excavations that have been initiated in the ancient city of Uzuncaburç in the southern province of Mersin’s Silifke district are expected to unearth important artifacts. Uzuncaburç is a significant tourism center in the city. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 31, 2017
Contents of 2,500 yr-old sarcophagus discovered in Turkey's Balıkesir revealed
Researchers at the ancient Greek city of Antandrus, located in Turkey's Balıkesir province, have discovered the remains of a woman and a man, as well as numerous artifacts inside a 2,500-year-old sarcophagus, reports said Sunday. Source: Daily Sabah
