July 2026 was another remarkable month for archaeology in Türkiye, with discoveries ranging from the Neolithic to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Among the standout finds were a hoard of 50 Persian gold coins buried around 2,500 years ago at Notion, a rare 5,000-year-old Bronze Age temple with altars and sacred hearths at Tadım Höyük, and the identification of a long-misunderstood temple at Yalvaç as a sanctuary dedicated to the Anatolian goddess Hecate. Excavations also revealed the remains of the lost church associated with the First Council of Nicaea beneath the Iznik Basilica, a 2,000-year-old Roman road at Aspendos, an impressive Roman swimming pool, and a beautifully preserved Poseidon mosaic at Tralleis, while work at Türkmen Karahöyük produced a 3,500-year-old Luwian seal and a Late Roman gold amulet.
Important research shed new light on ancient trade, climate and daily life, including Early Bronze Age obsidian from the Greek island of Melos at Çaltılar Höyük, evidence that olives once grew around Kültepe 5,000 years ago, and a rare Byzantine twin burial uncovered at Ephesus. Archaeological projects across Ani, Tyana, Karahantepe, Oylum Höyük, and Pompeiopolis continued to expand knowledge of Türkiye's rich past, while restored monuments and museums, including the Macedonian Tower, Hıdırlık Tower, Topkapı Palace's Serbethane and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, made newly conserved heritage accessible to visitors. The month also saw Türkiye recover the long-lost 13th panel of the famous Zeugma 'Gypsy Girl' mosaic from the United States, underscoring the country's ongoing efforts to protect and reunite its archaeological heritage.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for July 2026. Have we missed anything? Please let us know by using Contact tab!
July 01, 2026
Hagia Sophia restoration turns to Edirne’s kufeki stone for first time
Kufeki stone quarried in Edirne is being used for the first time in the restoration of Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, as conservation teams look for a durable replacement material close to the historic stonework once sourced from Istanbul. Source: Türkiye Today
Drone footage from Şırnak province in southeastern Türkiye has recorded a large rock-cut water cistern near İdil, a district close to the Turkish-Syrian border. The structure, locally described as around 2,000 years old and possibly Roman-period, lies between Peçenek and Kayalı villages. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
July 02, 2026
Ancient temple identified as rare sanctuary of Hecate
A temple discovered 113 years ago at the Men Sanctuary in the southwestern province of Isparta’s Yalvaç district has been identified as a sanctuary dedicated to the Anatolian goddess Hecate, resolving a mystery that had puzzled archaeologists for more than a century. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
July 03, 2026
Türkiye's Temple of Apollo opens after dark as ancient oracle site comes alive at night
The Temple of Apollo in Didim, one of the ancient world's leading oracle sanctuaries, is now welcoming visitors after sunset as part of Türkiye's nighttime museum program, offering a cooler and more atmospheric way to explore the 2,500-year-old site during the summer season. Source: Türkiye Today
July 06, 2026
Archaeologists study remains from Seljuk cemetery in Türkiye
Archaeologists in eastern Türkiye are analyzing human remains recovered from what they believe is a Seljuk martyr cemetery that could be linked to the 1071 Battle of Manzikert, a pivotal medieval conflict that opened much of Anatolia to Turkish settlement. Source: Daily Sabah
July 07, 2026
How Tunceli Museum turned restored barracks into European award contender
Tunceli Museum has been nominated for the 2026 DASA Award, one of Europe’s prominent museum honors, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced. Source: Türkiye Today
Nine newly published inscriptions from the ancient Phrygian city of Akmoneia in western Türkiye are revealing separate but connected glimpses of Roman-period urban life: a torch-bearing statue dedicated by a local benefactor, a statue-lined main street, the first epigraphic evidence for Demeter Karpophoros in Phrygia, and a funerary poem for a man who appears to have died violently far from home. Source: Arkeonews
July 08, 2026
Claim over Queen Tamar's lost tomb puts Türkiye's Posof back in focus
A local claim that the long-lost tomb of Georgian Queen Tamar may be in the Kesikkayalar area of Posof, in Türkiye's northeastern Ardahan province, has brought renewed attention to one of the region's most debated medieval mysteries. Source: Türkiye Today
July 09, 2026
Roman-era Macedonia Tower reopens as museum in Türkiye
The Macedonian Tower, one of the best-known landmarks in the northwestern Turkish city of Edirne, has reopened as a museum after nearly four years of restoration and archaeological excavation. Source: Daily Sabah
July 10, 2026
Neanderthals, modern humans shared cultural traditions in Türkiye
New archaeological research in the southern province of Hatay revealed that Neanderthals and early modern humans shared a range of cultural traditions nearly 59,000 years ago, offering fresh evidence of interaction between the two human species. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Olives in ancient Kayseri? Kultepe finds reveal 5,000-year climate clues
Archaeological evidence from the Kultepe-Kanis-Karum archaeological site suggests that Kayseri and its surroundings had a warmer and more humid climate around 5,000 years ago, allowing crops such as olives, figs and artichokes to be grown in the region. Source: Türkiye Today
Lost Church of First Council of Nicaea emerges beneath Iznik Basilica
Archaeologists in Türkiye's northwestern Bursa province have uncovered remains linked to the small church where the First Council gathered in 325, including wall sections, floor paving and a column base at the lakeside site in Iznik, known as ancient Nicaea. Source: Türkiye Today
July 11, 2026
Archaeol0ogists unearth 18 tombs at ancient Tyana church
Archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Tyana in the Kemerhisar district of Nigde's Bor have unearthed 18 tombs, out of an estimated 42, dating to the Late Roman period, within an octagonal-plan church at the site. Source: Türkiye Today
From Korykos to Elaiussa Sebaste: Mersin revives ancient Roman route
Authorities in Mersin's Erdemli district are working to bring a Roman-era road into tourism after cleanup work was carried out along the route linking Korykos Ancient City and Elaiussa Sebaste Ancient City. Source: Türkiye Today
July 12, 2026
Excavations at Türkiye’s Ani uncover clues about Seljuk-era life
Excavations at Ani Archaeological Site, a medieval city in Kars province of eastern Türkiye known as the “City with 1,001 Churches” and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are continuing with researchers uncovering new evidence about the city’s Seljuk-era commercial, residential and social life. Source: Daily Sabah
Lost Roman bath in Ankara district emerges after decades
Excavation work is continuing at the historic Meliksah Bath in Cubuk, a district of Ankara, where a second phase of digging is uncovering additional sections of the Roman-era structure. Source: Türkiye Today
July 13, 2026
2,500-Year-Old Persian Gold Coin Hoard Found at Ancient Notion in Türkiye
A small ceramic vessel buried beneath an ancient building at Notion in western Türkiye contained 50 Persian gold coins dating back around 2,500 years. Source: Arkeonews
Possible Turkic mark found at Türkiye's Binbirkilise site in Karaman
A runic inscription that may represent a mark belonging to a Turkic tribe has been identified on a rock block in the Binbirkilise area of Karadag, north of Karaman in central Türkiye. Source: Türkiye Today
1,700-Year-Old Coin Celebrating Constantinople Found at Roman Villa in Devon
A Roman coin issued to commemorate Constantinople—modern-day Istanbul—has been discovered during excavations at a rare Roman villa complex in Devon, England. Source: Arkeonews
July 15, 2026
Türkiye recovers 13th panel of famed 'Gypsy Girl' mosaic from US
Türkiye has recovered the 13th panel of the famed "Gypsy Girl" mosaic from the United States, marking the latest return of an artifact linked to the ancient Roman city of Zeugma, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said Tuesday. Source: Daily Sabah
July 16, 2026
2,000-Year-Old Roman Swimming Pool for 300 People Revealed at Tralleis
A vast Roman swimming pool capable of holding around 300 people has been fully revealed at the ancient city of Tralleis in western Türkiye. The 2,000-year-old basin formed part of a monumental complex where residents bathed, exercised and trained for athletic competitions. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Archaeologists to Open Stone-Covered Neolithic Chamber at Karahantepe
Archaeologists at Karahantepe in southeastern Türkiye are preparing to remove the large stone slabs covering a Neolithic chamber first exposed during last year’s excavations. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
July 17, 2026
Young Macaque Found in Attaleia Tomb May Have Been a Wealthy Roman’s Pet
A young macaque found in a Roman-period tomb at ancient Attaleia, beneath modern Antalya in southern Türkiye, may once have belonged to one of the city’s wealthy residents. Source: Arkeonews
Topkapi Palace's dessert quarters reopen with 452 artifacts
Topkapi Palace's Serbethane, a section of the Ottoman imperial kitchens, has reopened to visitors following a restoration and a redesigned exhibition featuring 452 artifacts, Turkiye's National Palaces Administration said. Source: Türkiye Today
July 20, 2026
Remembering Schmidt, who introduced Göbeklitepe to the world
German archaeologist professor Klaus Schmidt is being remembered on the 12th anniversary of his death for the discoveries at Göbeklitepe that transformed understanding of the origins of human civilization and brought the ancient site to worldwide prominence. Source: Daily Sabah
July 21, 2026
Restoration to begin at expanded ancient city excavation in northwestern Türkiye
Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium in Türkiye’s northwestern Düzce province are preparing to begin an extensive restoration program after significantly expanding the excavation area, in a move expected to strengthen the region’s cultural and historical tourism. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations renew displays featuring 288 first-time artifacts
Ankara's Museum of Anatolian Civilizations will put 288 artifacts on public display for the first time as part of an extensive renewal project designed to bring the institution in line with contemporary museum practices. Source: Türkiye Today
New excavations begin at Oylum Hoyuk, home to 4,500-year-old olive remains
Excavations for the 2026 season have begun at Oylum Hoyuk in Türkiye's southeastern province of Kilis, where archaeologists are focusing on uncovering new cuneiform documents linked to the Bronze Age and Hittite period. Source: Türkiye Today
July 22, 2026
Archaeologists uncover 2,000-year-old road in Türkiye
Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Aspendos in southern Türkiye have uncovered a roughly 300-meter (984.25 feet) stretch of a 2,000-year-old road that once connected the site's Roman theater to its acropolis, excavation officials announced. Source: Türkiye Today
July 23, 2026
5 giant storage jars unearthed in Seljuk marketplace at Ani
Archaeologists working at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ani archaeological site in eastern Türkiye have uncovered a food storage room containing five large ceramic jars in the remains of the medieval Seljuk marketplace. Source: Türkiye Today
Türkiye's Antalya unveils restored Hıdırlık Tower archaeological site
The Archaeological Excavation and Viewing Terrace Project around Hıdırlık Tower, carried out by the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, has been completed. Source: Daily Sabah
July 25, 2026
Excavations begin at Pompeiopolis, focusing on rare Roman basilica, mosaics
Archaeologists have started the 2026 excavation season at the ancient city of Pompeiopolis in northern Türkiye, where work will focus on uncovering a large Roman basilica that was later turned into a Christian church and may have served as the religious center of the city. Source: Türkiye Today
1,500-Year-Old Blacksmith Workshop Unearthed in Türkiye’s Ancient “Iron City”
Archaeologists excavating Seleukeia Sidera in southwestern Türkiye have uncovered a remarkably well-preserved blacksmith workshop dating to the fifth century AD. Complete with a forge, an anvil area, a cooling basin and a charcoal store, the 1,500-year-old workshop offers an unusually detailed view of ironworking in a Late Roman city. Source: Arkeonews
5,000-Year-Old Bronze Age Temple with Altars and Sacred Hearths Discovered in Eastern Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating Tadım Fortress and Mound in eastern Türkiye have uncovered a 5,000-year-old temple complex containing two altars and three sacred hearths, offering new evidence of Bronze Age ritual practices in the Upper Euphrates region. Source: Arkeonews
July 26, 2026
A 113-Year-Old Archaeological Mistake Reveals a Temple to One of Anatolia’s Oldest Goddesses
For more than a century, the foundations of a small temple stood unnamed on a windswept mountain above southwestern Türkiye. Archaeologists now say the building belonged to Hecate—one of Anatolia’s most ancient and enigmatic goddesses. Source: Arkeonews
Ancient ship at Troy Museum brings Homer's maritime world to life
An ancient-style ship reconstructed through experimental archaeology is now on permanent display at the Troy Museum in Türkiye, offering visitors a closer look at the maritime culture, shipbuilding knowledge and seafaring traditions reflected in Homer's epics. Source: Türkiye Today
July 27, 2026
3,500-Year-Old Luwian Seal and Gold Amulet Believed to Contain a Biblical Passage Found in Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating Türkmen Karahöyük in central Türkiye have uncovered two rare objects separated by nearly two millennia: a 3,500-year-old stone seal inscribed in Hieroglyphic Luwian and a Late Roman Christian amulet containing an exceptionally thin sheet of gold believed to carry a passage from the Bible. Source: Arkeonews
Rare Byzantine twin burial unearthed at ancient Ephesus in Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating in the world-famous Temple of Artemis in Izmir have uncovered an extraordinary 1,200-year-old Byzantine grave containing premature twin infants. The burial and a rare anatomical anomaly identified in one of the babies, is offering new insights into infant mortality and genetics in the medieval period. Source: Daily Sabah
July 29, 2026
Greek Island Obsidian Discovered at a 5,000-Year-Old Mountain Settlement in Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating Çaltılar Höyük in southwestern Türkiye have uncovered stone tools made from obsidian originating on the Greek island of Melos, revealing that Aegean exchange networks extended deep into the Anatolian interior during the Early Bronze Age. Source: Arkeonews
5,000-Year-Old “Mystery Jar” with Three Enigmatic Symbols Found Upside Down at Gökhöyük
Archaeologists excavating Gökhöyük in central Türkiye have uncovered an extraordinary 5,000-year-old ceramic vessel decorated with a human face, two wild goats and what researchers interpret as a tree of life. Source: Arkeonews
2,000-year-old Poseidon mosaic uncovered at ancient Tralleis
A remarkably well-preserved Roman-era mosaic hall featuring a hippocampus, a mythical sea creature associated with the god Poseidon, has been uncovered at the ancient city of Tralleis in western Türkiye. Source: Türkiye Today
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