November of 2020 was definitely a month of many fascinating archaeological finds in the area of Turkey. Certainly, the most attention was drawn to the spectacular works at Karahan Tepe in Şanlıurfa Province where the discovered settlement that may be older than the prehistoric site of Göbeklitepe. However, many more great artefacts were found, including a bronze statue weighing 300 kg, drawn out of the water by fishermen from Marmaris. Meanwhile, burial chambers were found in Amida Mound situated at the heart of Diyarbakır along with a 1,800-year-old sewer system. Finally, the police forces were busy catching 2428 pieces of historical artefacts in Adana and uncovering an illegal dig at Aphrodisias where two 2,500-year-old sarcophagi were unearthed.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for November 2020. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
November 2, 2020
700-year-old Bey Bath in Beçin Ancient City will be restored
The Bey Hamam, which is considered to be 700 years old, in the ancient city of Beçin, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List and served as the capital of the Menteşeoğulları Principality in Muğla's Milas district, will be restored. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 4, 2020
Skeleton of first farmer in western Anatolia found
Officials who have been excavating Bilecik’s Bahçelievler neighborhood after being notified by a resident about some archaeological pieces in his apartment’s garden have found a skeleton, which is believed to be of the first farmer of western Anatolia. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 5, 2020
Ghost village Kayaköy's churches to be restored in southwestern Turkey
Two historical churches in Kayaköy, a centuries-old settlement in Fethiye, in southwestern Turkey's Muğla, will be restored after being left abandoned for 97 years. Source: Daily Sabah
Meya ancient city, fairy chimneys await to be discovered
The ancient city of Meya, located in the Diyadin district of the eastern province of Ağrı, had hosted many civilizations catering to their needs of shelter, security and defense and with its fairy chimneys that have been formed by the erosion of rocks in recent times, it awaits visitors to come its discover its enticing beauty. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 6, 2020
Kayseri Red Mansion is ready for restoration
Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç announced that the Red Mansion (Kızıl Köşk), which was dated to the period of the Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubad I, is ready for restoration. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 7, 2020
Illegal excavation in the ancient city of Aphrodisias
Two sarcophagi, which are recorded to be 2,500 years old, were unearthed in the area where illegal excavations were carried out in the ancient city of Aphrodisias in Aydın's Karacasu district. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 9, 2020
Treasure hunters unearth 2,500-year-old history
A 2,500-year-old sarcophagus has been found in the olive grove illegally dug by treasure hunters in the western province of Aydın’s Karacasu district. While it was seen that there was a Medusa relief on the sarcophagus, the gendarmerie took extensive security measures against the treasure hunters in the area. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
1,500-year-old human skeleton found in southeast Turkey
A 1,500-year-old human male skeleton was unearthed in the ancient city of Perre in Adıyaman province on Nov. 7. The skeleton was found in a cist-grave next to a 160-meter (525-foot) long staircase structure that was unearthed during an excavation in the southeastern province, read a statement by officials. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 10, 2020
Burial chambers found in heart of Diyarbakır
In archaeological excavations carried out in Amida Mound, described as the “heart of Diyarbakır” in the historical Sur district in Turkey’s southeast, Roman-era burial chambers have been unearthed. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Mokissos ancient city awaits to be revived
With its history dating back to the Hellenistic period, the ancient city of Mokissos, also known as “Nora,” which is compared to the ancient city of Ephesus in the region, is waiting to be revived again. Founded on the skirts of Hasan Mountain in the Helvadere district in the central Anatolian province of Aksaray, the ancient city takes its visitors to the depths of history with its monumental Roman tombs, masonry churches from the fourth to the seventh century, as well as its unique natural beauties. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
800-year-old Seljuk mansion to undergo restoration in central Turkey
A historical mansion built during the time of the Seljuk Sultan of Rum Kayqubad I in the central province of Kayseri will regain its former glory through a new restoration project. Source: Daily Sabah
Chess tournament on Mount Nemrut
Athletes affiliated with the Youth and Sports Provincial Directorate organized a chess event on Mount Nemrut, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in the Kahta district of Adıyaman. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 11, 2020
Abandoned church to convert into cultural center
The restoration project of Hagia Triada Church, which turned into ruins and became home to glue-sniffers in years in the Ayvalık district of the northwestern province of Balıkesir, has finally been approved after 16 years. According to daily Hürriyet, the regional cultural and natural heritage preservation board granted approval of the project, and the church would convert into a cultural museum. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
‘Mona Lisa of ancient age’ found in Osmaniye
A mosaic area unearthed during the excavations conducted by the Osmaniye Museum Directorate in the southern province of Osmaniye’s Kadirli district has proved a rival to the ancient city of Zeugma with its awe-striking features. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 12, 2020
Fishermen discover ancient fossils dating back eight million years
A group of Turkish fishermen has discovered the remains of elephant fossils that are believed to be about eight million years old on the Aegean province of Çanakkale’s Ezine coast. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Roman-era mosaics under protection
Some 1600-year-old floor mosaics, dating back to the Eastern Romans, which were unearthed in the Balatlar Building Community excavations in Turkey’s northern province of Sinop, will be brought into tourism. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient city of Misis to be new attraction center of southern Turkey
Located on the historical Silk Road in the southern province of Adana, the ancient city of Misis is turning into a center of attraction for history enthusiasts with excavation and restoration work. Archaeologists have reached the final stage in revealing the theater of the city in addition to their ongoing studies of the caravanserai and mills at the 7,000-year-old settlement. Source: Daily Sabah
2428 pieces of historical artifacts were caught in Adana
In the anti-smuggling of historical artifacts operation in Adana, 2428 objects considered to belong to the ancient Roman and Byzantine periods were seized and 2 suspects were detained. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 13, 2020
Tablet from Ancient Egyptian Period caught in Diyarbakır
According to the statement made by the Diyarbakır Governorate, as a result of the operations of the Provincial Gendarmerie Command, it was learned that the suspects living in the district of Silvan were looking for customers to sell the tablet that they claimed to be from the ancient Egyptian period, for 1 million lira. The suspects were caught red-handed while trying to sell historical artifacts at a workplace located on the Diyarbakır-Silvan highway. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 15, 2020
Purified of lichens, Seljuk tombstones shed light on history in eastern Turkey
The tombstones in the Seljuk Meydan Cemetery in the Ahlat district of eastern Bitlis province, are each a work of art decorated with reliefs, inscriptions and motifs that shed light on the region's history. Source: Daily Sabah
November 16, 2020
Historic Vaniköy Mosque to be restored after fire damage
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his sadness late on Nov. 15 over a fire at Istanbul’s 17th century Vanikoy Mosque and said restoration work would be carried out soon. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 17, 2020
Ancient Tekkeköy Caves falls into ruin
Known to have been used as the oldest settlement in the Black Sea region in human history, the Tekkeköy Caves, an archaeological site in Samsun dating back to the 60,000s, have fallen into ruin because of spray paint. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
8,000-Year-Old Fishing Net Weights Found in İzmir
During the excavations carried out in Yeşilova Mound in İzmir, weights that fishermen tied to the end of their nets 8,000 years ago were found. Source: Arkeofili
November 18, 2020
Turkey partially restores 670-year-old İmera Monastery
Partial restoration of the İmera Monastery in Turkey’s Black Sea region has been completed. Located in the Olucak village of Gumushane province, the gothic-style Christian-Orthodox monastery is among the most important religious structures of the Eastern Black Sea region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Fishermen Find 300 Kg Bronze Sculpture in Marmaris
Fishermen who netted the sea in Marmaris found a bronze female statue, 2 meters long and 300 kilograms in weight. The bronze woman statue was handed over to the Marmaris Museum Directorate for examination. Source: Arkeofili
November 19, 2020
Mammoth fossils unearthed in Turkey’s northwest
Fossils belonging to mammoths, believed to be eight million years old, have been unearthed in a quarry in the northwestern province of Edirne’s Büyükdöllük village. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Roman period bath found in Uşak Blaundos ancient city
The Roman bath, which was found during excavations in the ancient city of Blaundos in the Ulubey district of Uşak, will be opened to visitors after the completion of the work. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 20, 2020
2,900-year-old fortress to serve as archaeological park in eastern Turkey
Tourists visiting eastern Turkey will now be able to stroll through the 2,900-year-old ruins of Altıntepe Fortress, which is one of the most important Urartu settlements in Anatolian lands. Located in Erzincan province on the historical Silk Road, the fortress is now set to serve as an archaeological park following the completion of excavation work. Source: Daily Sabah
November 22, 2020
A Large Bronze Age Figurine Found in Kültepe
In Kültepe Kaniş/Karum Höyük, the largest known figurine of the Ancient Bronze Age in Anatolia was found. Source: Arkeofili
November 23, 2020
Volunteer works for church he discovered in his garden
Retired Mehmet Keleş, who has been working voluntarily in the excavations of the Holy Apostles Church that he found in his garden in the eastern province of Hatay’s Arsuz district, is happy to contribute his bit for bringing the cultural heritage to light. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 24, 2020
Roman-era mining galleries to open to tourism
The mining galleries belonging to the Roman era that were in operation until 40 years ago in Ladik, one of the historical settlements of the Central Anatolian province of Konya, draw attention with their structure resembling an underground city. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
God Statues Found in Kibyra Ancient City
God statues dating back to the Roman period were found in the ancient city of Kibyra, located in the Gölhisar district of Burdur. Source: Arkeofili
1500-year-old inscription found in Iznik
An inscription belonging to a father and son from the Roman period was found in the region declared as the 1st Degree Archaeological Site in Iznik district of Bursa. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 25, 2020
Significant Roman-era artifacts found in Kibyra
Excavations that have been ongoing in the ancient city of Kibyra, which is located in the southern province of Burdur’s Gölhisar District, have unraveled the head of a marble bust of Serapis and a statue of Asclepius from the Roman period. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Mythological masks unearthed in Turkey’s ancient city of Stratonikeia
Archaeologists in southwestern Turkey’s Muğla have recently uncovered 10 rock carvings of mythological masks in the ancient city of Stratonikeia. Source: Daily Sabah
Ancient masks found in Kurul Castle
More than 20 busts and masks, estimated to be 2,100 years old, were found in the Kurul Castle in Ordu Province, one of the archaeological sites of the Black Sea. Source: Arkeolojik Haber
November 26, 2020
Olive museum in Turkey’s south enlightens visitors
Olive Oil Museum, which was brought to tourism with the restoration of the three-century-old olive oil facility in the southern province of Hatay, exhibits old and traditional tools used in the extraction of olive oil back in the time. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Lake withdrawal reveals ancient port
With the withdrawal of Lake Van,in the province of Van, the ruins of a port from the Urartu era have come to light in Erciş District. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 27, 2020
Visioncy to host Ara Güler exhibition in Kuala Lumpur
Visioncy, which supports the cultural development of Kuala Lumpur through collaborations with international and local entities, has announced that it will launch an inaugural virtual exhibition to showcase the lifetime achievements of Ara Güler during his 60 years of travels, hard work and dedication to photography. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Historical monastery to open for visit after 60-years hiatus
Restoration and excavation work has resumed at the Saint Simon Monastery in southern Turkey after a pause of 60 years, and the site will host tourists once it is completed. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Discoveries in Karahan Tepe, Unlike Those in Göbeklitepe
In Karahan Tepe, which is located in Şanlıurfa like Göbeklitepe, a statue head and ritual areas carved into the bedrock were discovered. Source: Arkeofili
New Karahantepe settlement may be older than Göbeklitepe
Excavation work at settlements in the archaeological site of Karahantepe, located in Turkey's southeastern Şanlıurfa province, continues diligently. According to the latest data from the archaeological teams at the site, a new settlement that may be older than the prehistoric site of Göbeklitepe – which is crowned the world’s first temple and "zero point" of history – will be unearthed soon. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 29, 2020
Priest Bust Found in Laodikeia Ancient City
An approximately 2,000-year-old portrait of a priest was found in the works carried out in the Western Theater in the ancient city of Laodikeia in Denizli Province. Source: Arkeofili
November 30, 2020
Excavations unearth Roman-era sewer system in Turkey's southeastern Amida Tumulus
A 1,800-year-old sewer system was discovered during archaeological excavations at the Amida Tumulus in the historical Sur district of southeastern Diyarbakır province. Source: Daily Sabah
Medusa relief found in the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium in Düzce Province
During the excavations in the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium in Düzce Province, a relief of Medusa, known as the snake-haired female monster believed to turn the one looking at her eyes into stone in Greek mythology, was found. Source: Arkeofili
