Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for May 2017. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
May 2, 2017
1,700-year-old temple reveals ancient religion in east Anatolia
As part of the excavations conducted over the last four years at the Zerzevan Castle in Diyarbakır province, where an underground church, underground shelter and secret passages were discovered formerly, a 1,700-year-old underground temple, belonging to the Mithras religion, has recently been unearthed. Source: Daily Sabah
Turkey retrieved over 4,000 smuggled artifacts in a decade, archaeologist says
Over 4,000 smuggled historical artifacts have been repatriated to Turkey between 2004 and 2016, a professor of archeology said Tuesday, as country spends tremendous effort to prevent smuggling of historical artifacts. Source: Daily Sabah
Stolen 13th century manuscript’s auction in London stopped by Turkish authorities
A rare handwriting dating back to the Seljuk era was prevented from being sold illegally in an auction in Britain just in time. A Turkish Ph.D. student located in Utrecht, the Netherlands, realized a dubious item on a Sotheby's auction list and, after conducting preliminary research he informed Turkish authorities who halted the sale. Source: Daily Sabah
May 3, 2017
Authorities seize rare Ottoman books in western Turkey
Turkish police conducted a raid in the Keşan district of the western province of Edirne Wednesday, during which they discovered writings from the Ottoman period, including a Quran worth 100,000 Turkish liras (approximately $28,000). Source: Daily Sabah
May 4, 2017
Traces of Palmyra seen in ancient Zeugma
Some sculptures unearthed during archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Zeugma, which are on display at the Gaziantep Archaeology Museum, have been identified to have the same style as the ones in Syria’s ancient Palmyra city, which is currently on the world’s agenda after it received severe damage from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Çukurova Museum offers view of past hardships
Based in Osmaniye province, the Kadirli City Museum, which was closed seven years ago after serving as a prison for 40 years, was converted to a museum last year and has been visited by 50,000 visitors. Source: Daily Sabah
May 5, 2017
Lost stele found buried in a garden
An ancient funerary stele, unearthed last year during construction work in the Central Anatolian province of Konya’s Ereğli district and claimed to have been sold, was found on May 3 buried in the garden of the digging company. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 6, 2017
Ancient Perge surviving, but locals are not
The wonders of the ancient city of Perge in Antalya have survived until the present day, but locals who make a living off of the site are facing an array of economic threats due to a drop in the number of visitors. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 7, 2017
Three more Turkish sites enter UNESCO’s temporary list
Three more Turkish sites have been included in UNESCO’s tentative list of world heritage, bringing the total number of Turkish properties on the list up to 72, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism stated on May 6. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Perga mosaics showing Oceanus and Medusa to be exhibited in Turkey’s Antalya
Tombs decorated with well-preserved mosaics showing Oceanus and Medusa of the Greek mythology found during excavations in 2003 in the ancient city of Perga will be put on display soon. Source: Daily Sabah
May 9, 2017
Çorum deputy asks return of Ankara’s Hittite artifacts
Ruling Justice and Development Party Çorum deputy and parliament’s administrative chief Salim Uslu said they have initiated works to move Hittite civilization artifacts at the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara and the Hittite Sun Course Monument in the capital’s Sıhhiye Square to the Central Anatolian province of Çorum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Legendary Ottoman architect’s Sinan’s historic Turkish bath put up for sale in Istanbul
A 16th century Turkish bath built by renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan in Istanbul has been put up for sale with an asking price of 3 million euros, daily Birgün reported on May 9. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Series of negligence haunts recovered 2,700-year-old Hittite stela
A series of negligent events regarding a 2,700-year-old Hittite stela over the course of a year demonstrated the ways in which Turkey still needs to adopt consistent and more effective measures in protecting its rich cultural heritage. Source: Daily Sabah
Ancient sarcophagus discovered during road work in Istanbul's Tuzla
Construction workers have found an ancient sarcophagus during road work in Istanbul's Tuzla district, reports said Tuesday. Source: Daily Sabah
May 11, 2017
Perge mosaics as magnificent as the ones in Zeugma
Mosaics unearthed during excavation works in the ancient city of Perge in the southern province of Antalya are dubbed “Turkey’s second Zeugma” for its alluring appearance. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient stele turns out to be fake
A 2,700-year-old ancient funerary stele that went missing before being found in the yard of an excavation company has turned out to be a fake. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 12, 2017
550-year-old shrine moved before being inundated in Turkey’s Hasankeyf
A 550-year-old historic shrine in Hasankeyf has been moved before the area is flooded by the Ilısu Dam in the southeastern province of Batman, Doğan News Agency has reported. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 16, 2017
Ancient City of Shu'ayb in southeastern Turkey awaits visitors
Located in the province of Şanlıurfa, the ancient city of Shu'ayb is a must-see destination for those interested in Roman and religious history as the ancient city is believed to be where the prophet Shu'ayb lived. Source: Daily Sabah
May 18, 2017
Perge Stadium returns to its heyday
The Roman-era Perge Stadium, which has a capacity of 12,000 people, will be restored and returned to its old glorious days. Dating back to the 2nd century, the stadium in Antalya’s ancient Perge city is one of the largest ancient stadiums in Anatolia. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 20, 2017
Çukurova’s Archaeology Museum opens
The first stage of the Adana Museum Complex, the Archaeology Museum, which is home to archaeological and ethnographical works as well as agricultural and industrial tools and machines, opened on May 18 with a ceremony. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Life of Hittites to be revived with village
A Hittite village will be established in the Central Anatolian province of Çorum’s Boğazkale in an effort to provide a taste of the ancient past. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 22, 2017
Archaeologists unearth 5,000 year old ‘luxury’ settlement in western Turkey
Archaeologists have discovered an ancient settlement consisting of "luxurious" houses during excavations in Yassıtepe, which is connected to Yeşilova Höyük in Bornova district of Turkey's western Izmir province. Source: Daily Sabah
May 23, 2017
Artifacts in world’s first baptistery cleaned
Around 1,000 artifacts that have been unearthed during archaeological excavations in the Cultural Faith Park in the southeastern province of Mardin’s Nusaybin district have been meticulously cleaned in preparation for a publication on the area. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 24, 2017
Göbeklitepe readies for UNESCO with new façade
The ancient site of Göbeklitepe located in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa is getting ready to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List with a new roof protection. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
466-year-old mosque to be repaired in northeastern Turkey
The Iskender Pasha Mosque dating back 466 years to the Ottoman era will be restored by the end of 2017 in Turkey's northeastern Artvin province. Source: Daily Sabah
12 treasure hunters trying to sell ancient sarcophagus for $4M detained in Turkey’s Eskişehir
Gendarmerie teams successfully detained 12 treasure hunters who were trying to sell an ancient sarcophagus with an inscription of the cross for 4 million U.S. dollars in Turkey's northwestern Eskişehir province. Source: Daily Sabah
May 25, 2017
Mardin’s gallery grave opens to visitors
A 1,400 year-old gallery grave unearthed during archaeological works in the ancient city of Dara in the southeastern province of Mardin has been opened to visitors after necessary measures. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 26, 2017
Ancient tomb seized from treasure hunters in central Turkey
Twelve treasure hunters have been detained in the Central Anatolian province of Eskişehir after attempting to sell an ancient tomb with cross motif for $4 million. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Yassıtepe excavations reveal ancient luxurious life in İzmir
The Yassıtepe excavations that are ongoing at the Yeşilova Mound in the western Turkish province of İzmir have unearthed the ruins of 5,000-year-old structures, as well as “luxurious” residents at the time. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 29, 2017
Cross of 12th century Byzantine chapel stolen in southern Turkey
The cross of a 12th century Byzantine chapel, located outside the ancient city of Myra in the southern province of Antalya, has reportedly been stolen. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 31, 2017
Oldest Anatolian transcript found in Acemhöyük
The oldest known written document in Anatolia has been found during excavations in Acemhöyük Mound in the Central Anatolian province of Aksaray. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
