November 2019 in Turkish archaeology

Sapinuwa archaeological site
Sapinuwa archaeological site

The most significant archaeological discovery in the area of Turkey in November 2019 was a 3,500-year-old fragmented skull and femur thought to belong to the Hittite period. It was unearthed in Sapinuwa, nowadays Çorum, an important military and religious center of its time. This discovery will help to shed light on the human typology and anatomy of the Hittites.

Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for November 2019. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!

November 1, 2019

11,300 Year-Old Mini Göbekli Tepe Unearthed In Turkey

Archaeologists have unearthed a Neolithic-era temple with three almost-intact stelae similar in form to the famous and controversial Göbekli Tepe. The ancient temple was unearthed in the Ilısu neighborhood of Dargeçit in southeastern Turkey’s Mardin province and archaeologists estimate that it was built 11,300 years-old. Source: Ancient Origins

November 6, 2019

New structure found in Metropolis excavations

Excavations in the ancient city of Metropolis in İzmir’s Torbalı district, carried out with the support of the Sabancı Foundation, continue to shed light on the secrets of history. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

November 7, 2019

Ottoman writings exhibited at South African university

Descendants of prominent Ottoman scholars and activists have donated Ottoman manuscripts, documents and rare books written in Afrikaans using the Arabic script to the University of Cape Town (UCT), with the documents clearly indicating an early link between Turkey and South Africa. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Side Underwater Museum welcomes 50,000 visitors

Turkey’s first underwater museum, the Side Underwater Museum, takes diving enthusiasts to a journey of mystic blue water with a collection of 117 sculptures. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

November 8, 2019

Ancient Pinocchio unearthed in Denizli

Cave paintings dating back 1,500 years, including one that looks like the fictional character Pinocchio, have been found in western Turkey. The paintings were discovered during archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Laodicea in the western province of Denizli. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Historical settlement in Cappadocia to serve tourism

A historical settlement that was discovered by chance during urban transformation works five years ago in the Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir is set to be opened to tourism soon. Discovered during the implementation of “Nevşehir Castle and Environment Urban Transformation Project,” carried out by the Nevşehir Municipality and the Housing Development Administration (TOKI), the settlement has been cleaned and prepared to open to visits. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

November 11, 2019

Artifacts show ancient Maydos was ‘gateway to Europe’

Excavations in the Eceabat district in the northwestern province of Çanakkale have revealed that people from the Balkans settled in the area 4,000 years ago. Archaeologists have found 3,500-year-old artifacts decorated with Balkan motifs in the Maydos Church Hill Mound site, where they have been digging for 10 years. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

November 12, 2019

'Clock ticking' in restoration of Istanbul's iconic Haydarpaşa station

The three-year-long restoration at Istanbul's landmark Haydarpaşa Train Station is officially coming to an end and the large clock welcoming passengers for decades has started ticking again after nine years of silence. Source: Daily Sabah

November 13, 2019

Antalya’s richness waiting for UNESCO

Turkey ranks No. 1 in the world for historical sites awaiting a place on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list, and the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya is overflowing with historical candidates for the international protection and distinction. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

November 14, 2019

Turkey’s historical artifacts return to country

As a result of intensive efforts carried out by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, thousands of historical artifacts smuggled abroad by illegal means were returned to the country in the past 15 years. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Farmer discovers giant Byzantine-era pithos in central Turkey

A farmer plowing his field in Turkey's central Kırıkkale province discovered a giant ancient pithos jar from the Byzantine era. The farmer, who lives in the Koçubaba village in Balışeyh district discovered the jar after his tractor got locked on the jar. Source: Daily Sabah

November 19, 2019

2,000-year-old sarcophagus with female skeleton found in Turkey

A 2,000-year-old sarcophagus with a female skeleton inside was found during road construction works in central Turkey. Municipality workers in Çorum province Tuesday found the sarcophagus located around 70 centimeters (27 inches) under the ground and informed Çorum Museum about the finding. Source: Daily Sabah

November 20, 2019

Ancient city lies underground in Demre

An ancient city, about 1.5 kilometers in diameter, was discovered four to 10 meters below the ground in Antalya’s Demre district, but excavations cannot start because the land has not been expropriated. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

'Troy: Myth and Reality' exhibition to open in London

The British Museum is getting ready to open its doors for a special exhibition of antique findings from the ancient city of Troy. 'Troy: Myth and Reality' will feature around 300 artifacts in a special gallery from Nov. 21 to tell the city's story. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

1,500-year-old ancient lamps unearthed in east Anatolia

Archaeologists in southeastern Turkey's Diyarbakır have discovered 48 ancient lamps dating back around 1,500 years. The lamps were discovered during excavations at the Zerzevan Castle, located in the city's Çınar district. Source: Daily Sabah

November 22, 2019

8,000-year old monument unearthed

A monument believed to be around 8,000-year old was unearthed in northwestern Turkey, according to the head of an excavation team. “During this years’ excavation work, we have found a structure that we believe dates back to around 6,000 B.C.,” Burçin Erdoğu from Trakya University, archeologist and head of the excavation team, told Anadolu Agency on Nov. 21. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Ancient baths unearthed in Turkey's Mersin province

Archeologists have unearthed baths that were built between the 4th and 7th centuries A.D. during excavations on the ruins of the ancient city of Akkale located in Mersin, southern Turkey. Source: Daily Sabah

Human Tooth Jewelry Found In Stone Age City

A team of international specialists has found evidence that Stone Age people who lived in what is modern Turkey, once wore human tooth jewellery. They have found three Neolithic molars that were modified so that they could be worn in one of the world’s earliest cities. The teeth were found during an excavation at the Çatalhöyük archaeological site in southern Turkey. Source: Ancient Origins

November 24, 2019

Insect museum collecting bugs for 82 years

The Insect Museum in Istanbul has been keeping and displaying bugs collected from around Turkey since 1937 in Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Forestry. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Gigantic Roman mosaic discovered under a farmer’s field in Turkey

In southern Turkey, a huge pool mosaic with complex geometric patterns was discovered, which reveals the Roman Empire’s far-reaching impact on its peak. Michael Hoff of the Nebraska University, an art historian from Lincoln and director of mosaic excavations, said the mosaic, which once adorned the floor of a bath complex, abuts a 25-foot (7-meter)-long pool, which would have been open to the air. Source: Archaeology World

November 25, 2019

Cappadocia's rock-carved museum to open in 2020

The land of fairy chimneys, Cappadocia in the central Anatolian city of Nevşehir, is getting ready to welcome its newest museum, the Cappadocia History and Culture Museum, next year. The museum is rock-carved in order to match the territory and inspired by the ancient underground cities of the town. Source: Daily Sabah

November 26, 2019

Research launched on Ottoman-era gravestones in northern Turkish city

A group of researchers and students from the Arts History Department of Bartın University in northern Turkey's Western Black Sea region will carry out field research and an academic study on gravestones from the Ottoman era. Source: Daily Sabah

November 28, 2019

Ancient maritime pieces await Turkish museum

Under the guidance of the world’s largest private amphora collection, work is underway to establish the Amphora and Maritime Museum, where the archaic, classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods will be described with information, documents, posters, sculptures, reliefs, maps and mock-ups, in Turkey. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

November 29, 2019

3,500-year-old skull and femur found in Hittite city of Sapinuwa in breakthrough discovery

Archaeologists have made a breakthrough discovery in central Anatolia from an ancient civilization that cremated and hid its dead, possibly shedding light on the human typology and anatomy of its mysterious people. A 3,500-year-old fragmented skull and femur thought to belong to the Hittite period was recently unearthed in Sapinuwa, nowadays Çorum, which once served as the capital of the Hittite Empire and was an important military and religious centre of its time. Source: Daily Sabah

November 30, 2019

4,500-year-old grain found in eastern Turkey

Laboratory examinations have revealed that the grain found in pots excavated in a settlement mound in eastern Turkey's province of Bingöl dates back 4,500 years. Source: Daily Sabah