March 2019 saw the archaeological site of Arslantepe getting ready for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Meanwhile, some amazing discoveries were made in the area of Turkey, including the statue of Emperor Trajan in Laodicea on the Lycus and a large pithos found by a farmer plowing his field in Niğde province. Moreover, the new Troy Museum was finally opened.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for March 2019. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
March 1, 2019
Roman-era grave found inside hill raided by treasure hunters in Turkey's Kayseri
A Roman-era mausoleum was discovered near a hill partially destroyed by treasure hunters in Turkey's central Kayseri province, reports said Friday. Source: Daily Sabah
March 3, 2019
17th century mosque discovered under collapsed retaining wall in Turkey's Mardin
The ruins of a 17th century mosque has been discovered after the collapse of a retaining wall in Turkey's southeastern Mardin province. Source: Daily Sabah
March 6, 2019
Year-long excavations to boost Harran’s UNESCO chance
The fact that the archaeological excavations will continue throughout the year on the Harran ruins will contribute to the ancient site’s inclusion in the permanent list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archeological excavations in Turkey to continue all year long
A protocol enabling the extension of 20 archeological excavations’ time-span to 12 months has been signed between Turkey’s Atatürk Supreme Council of Culture Language and History, Turkish Historical Society and General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
10th century Georgian church to boost tourism in eastern Turkey's Erzurum
Historical Öşvank (Oshk Vank) church, located in Turkey's eastern Erzurum province will boost tourism in the region after its restoration is finished, Governor Okay Memiş said Wednesday. Source: Daily Sabah
March 9, 2019
Ancient marvel Göbeklitepe rewrites human history
The birthplace of civilizations and the world's oldest temple site, Göbeklitepe was officially opened on Friday at a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, seen above with Mahmut Yıldız, the 66-year-old owner of the land the archaeological site sits on. Dubbed the "zero point of history," Göbeklitepe is considered a true embodiment of humanity's heritage, and is recognized as such in UNESCO's List of Heritage Sites. Source: Daily Sabah
Unique Ottoman-era wooden building in Turkey’s Çorum to serve as hotel, restaurant after restoration
The 154-year-old Veli Pasha Han in central Turkey's Çorum province will serve as a restaurant and a hotel after the restoration work is completed, the local mayor said Friday. Source: Daily Sabah
March 11, 2019
Millions of years old fossils on exhibition in Kayseri, central Turkey
Fossils with a history dating back to as much as 7.5 million years are now being displayed at an exhibition in central Turkey's Kayseri province. Source: Daily Sabah
March 12, 2019
Farmer discovers large Byzantine-era pithos in central Turkey
A farmer plowing his field in Turkey's central Niğde province discovered a large pithos believed to be dating back to the Byzantine period, reports said Monday. Source: Daily Sabah
March 14, 2019
Turkey to restore 2 historical churches in Diyarbakır
Annan Ertem, director-general of the Foundations department, told state-run Anadolu Agency 15 million Turkish liras ($2.75 million) will be spent on the restoration of Surp Giragos and Mar Petyun churches in the southeastern Diyarbakır province. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 19, 2019
President Erdoğan opens Troy Museum
Built on the Troy archaeological site, which brings light to the 5,000-year history of Çanakkale province, the Troy Museum was opened by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday. Source: Daily Sabah
March 20, 2019
First Anatolian farmers were local hunter-gatherers that adopted agriculture
An international team, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History and in collaboration with scientists from the United Kingdom, Turkey and Israel, has analyzed 8 pre-historic individuals, including the first genome-wide data from a 15,000-year-old Anatolian hunter-gatherer, and found that the first Anatolian farmers were direct descendants of local hunter-gatherers. Source: Heritage Daily
March 21, 2019
Works finished in Arslantepe to join UNESCO main list
The archaeological site of Arslantepe in the eastern province of Malatya, which was added to the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2014, is eyeing being bestowed recognition in the permanent list. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Historic Ahlat is Turkey's newest 'slow city'
Considered an open-air museum for its Seljuk-era relics, including tombstones, cave houses, historic bridges and two castles, Ahlat has become the newest addition to the Cittaslow (slow city) network from Turkey. Source: Daily Sabah
March 22, 2019
Locals discover 11 million-year-old sea creature fossils in eastern Turkey
Fossils belonging to mussel shells and snails that believed to be dating back to millions of years ago have been discovered in eastern Turkey's Muş province, media reports said Friday. Source: Daily Sabah
March 23, 2019
Tombs in ‘city of gladiators’ to open to visitors
The ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Stratonikeia in Yatağan, in the Aegean province of Muğla, reveal new historical artifacts as part of the project launched by Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry on March 1. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Roman military, religious life comes back to life at Zerzevan Castle
Diyarbakır's ancient history comes to fore with the ongoing excavations at the Zerzevan Castle, offering insights into the daily lives and religion of the Romans. Source: Daily Sabah
March 24, 2019
Rare literary works digitized in central Turkey’s Konya
Rare literary works, including newspapers, manuscripts and printed books, have been digitized to ensure their preservation in the Manuscript Library in central Turkey's Konya province. Source: Daily Sabah
March 25, 2019Ministry halts construction activity after ancient bath found in Istanbul
The Turkish Culture Ministry has stopped construction activities after the remains of an ancient bath were found. The remains of the ancient artifacts came to light during excavations as part of renovation works for stone houses near Eyüp Sultan Mosque near Istanbul’s Golden Horn. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Relic unearthed in Turkey shifts metallurgy’s origin story
A small lump of iron found in ancient ruins in Turkey may upend commonly held beliefs about the history of ironmaking, as the relic appears to have come from somewhere else. Source: The Asahi Shimbun
March 27, 2019
Huge snail fossil removed from house wall in Adıyaman
A 65 million-year-old huge snail fossil, used as a brick on the wall of a house in the southeastern province of Adıyaman, has been removed and taken to a museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
March 28, 2019
Turkish researchers debunk UK’s Elgin Marbles claim
Two Turkish researchers have debunked the claim that the Elgin Marbles, which have been at the center of a decades-long tussle between Britain and Greece, were a gift to the latter by Ottoman Sultan Selim III. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Hundreds of artifacts including stone-carved Bible, statue resembling Kilia Idol seized in Istanbul
Istanbul police seized a total of 836 historical artifacts, including a statue resembling the Kilia Idol, a statue sold for $14.5 million in a recent New York auction, and an 18th-century ancient Greek Bible carved in stone in anti-smuggling operations across the city. Source: Daily Sabah
March 30, 2019
Unique Roman emperor statue revealed in Denizli
Archaeologists in the ancient city of Laodicea in the western province of Denizli have unearthed a grandiose statue of Trajan, one of the greatest Roman emperors, dating back to 113 A.D. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
