Among the archaeological discoveries announced for November 2022, the most impressive ones included a 3200-year-old trepanned skull, found in eastern Van province. This special find was made during the salvage excavation in the Early Iron Age necropolis. Moreover, a multi-layered legionary cemetery, carved into the bedrock in the Roman Empire castle, has been unearthed in the ancient city of Satala.
Closer to the more touristic regions, it was announced that the dome of the historical Clock Tower, one of the symbols of Antalya, has been put in its place after 90 years. Also, the items of unique historical heritage, including the human-sized bronze statue of the Roman Emperor Lucius Verus and the columnar sarcophagus fragments from the ancient city of Perge near Antalya, have been returned to Turkey from the United States. In western Turkey, a seal belonging to the city was found for the first time during excavations in the ancient city of Klazomenai in the Urla district of Izmir province.
The most sensational news was the discovery of a skeleton of a man who was a victim of the Santorini volcano eruption. It was found along the coast of Ionia, in what is now Turkey. The man and his dog had been killed by the tsunami that resulted from the cataclysmic eruption of the volcano almost 3,600 years ago. Underwater archaeologists were also busy, as they found 14 shipwrecks off Antalya coast this summer alone. Now, the number of shipwrecks found off Antalya since 2000 exceeds 350.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for November 2022. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
November 2, 2022
Statue fragments found in Aizanoi
A 2,000-year-old male head sculpture and a fragment of the mythological goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, have been unearthed during the excavations carried out in the ancient city of Aizanoi, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, in the Çavdarhisar district of the western province of Kütahya. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 3, 2022
Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Parion, the most important harbor city in the Hellenistic era, have uncovered 2,000-year-old graves of a mother and child. Parion, also known as Parium, was a Greek city on the border between the historical lands of Troad and Mysia. Parion was an important harbor for the surrounding settlements in ancient times. Source: Arkeonews
Dome of historical Clock Tower in place after 90 years
The dome of the historical Clock Tower, one of the symbols of Antalya, has been put in its place after 90 years. The Clock Tower was built in the early 1900s on the Byzantine-era bastions, but its original dome was destroyed during a storm in the 1930s. With five hours of work, the dome is now in its original place. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 7, 2022
Ancient shipwrecks in Türkiye’s Antalya excite archaeologists
Underwater archaeologists found 14 shipwrecks this summer alone. Professor Hakan Öniz from Akdeniz University says the number of shipwrecks found off Antalya since 2000 now exceeds 350. Source: Daily Sabah
November 9, 2022
Enchanted ancient Egyptian amulet seal found in Türkiye's Amasra
An enchanted amulet stamp seal, thought to belong to the ancient Egyptians, has been discovered during archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Amastris in the Amasra district of northern Türkiye's Bartın. Source: Daily Sabah
November 13, 2022
A 3200-year-old trepanned skull discovered in eastern Turkey’s Van province
A 3200-year-old trepanned skull was discovered in eastern Turkey’s Van province. This special find was found during the salvage excavation in the Early Iron Age necropolis in the İçimli hamlet of Uzuntekne Village in the Çatak district of Van. Source: Arkeonews
November 14, 2022
Smuggled artifacts return to Türkiye
The items of unique historical heritage, including the human-sized bronze statue of the Roman Emperor Lucius Verus and the columnar sarcophagus fragments from the ancient city of Perge in Antalya, have been returned to Türkiye from the United States. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 16, 2022
Antalya in pursuit of smuggled historical artifacts
As part of a project carried out by the Antalya Promotion Foundation (ATAV), 22,000 signatures have been collected so far for the return of eight historical artifacts that have been smuggled from the southern province of Antalya. The project seeks the return of the Nereids Monument, Harpy Monument, Payava Sarcophagus, Xanthos F-G-H Monument, Trysa Heroon and Sion Treasure from the ancient city of Trysa, a child relief from Myra rock tombs and Tyke Statue from the ancient city of Perge, which have been smuggled from Antalya and exhibited in museums of various countries. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 17, 2022
World's oldest market bridge: Irgandı, Türkiye's Ponte Vecchio
One of only four bridges in the world with a bazaar on top of it, Irgandı Bridge in Türkiye's Bursa has been a witness to 600 years of history and hardships, and today stands as one of the most popular cultural legacies of the city. Source: Daily Sabah
November 18, 2022
Roman Empire’s legionary cemetery unearthed
A multi-layered legionary cemetery, carved into the bedrock in the Roman Empire castle, has been unearthed in the ancient city of Satala. A fragment of a 2,000-year-old bronze document called “Diplomata,” which was given to Roman soldiers who completed their 25-year tenure, was also found in a tomb. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 20, 2022
Klazomenai, ceramic center of ancient period was found the first seal belonging to the city
A seal belonging to the city was found for the first time during excavations in the ancient city of Klazomenai in the Urla district of Izmir in western Turkey. Source: Arkeonews
November 23, 2022
Wall of Odeon regains ancient look
Marble coverings that have been found during the excavations in the ancient city of Alexandria Troas are being placed on the wall of the 2,000-year-old Odeon structure, and it regains its look from the ancient era. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 25, 2022
Medusa mosaic protected from winter conditions
The ancient city of Kibyra in the Gölhisar district of the southern province of Burdur welcomed 18,000 visitors this year. The ancient city’s Medusa mosaic, a 2,000-year-old “snake-haired, sharp-toothed female monster” figure, is opened to visitors every year in May and covered in winter. It is the most important attraction in the region. Now the mosaic will be covered in order to prevent it from receiving damage during the harsh winter conditions. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
November 27, 2022
Skeletons from Ancient Santorini Volcano Eruption Found in Turkey
A skeleton of a man who was a victim of the Santorini volcano eruption was found along the coast of Ionia, in what is now Turkey, this week. The man and his dog had been killed by the tsunami that resulted from the cataclysmic eruption of the volcano almost 3,600 years ago. Source: Greek Reporter
November 29, 2022
3600-year-old lead weights were unearthed in the Kumluca Bronze Age Shipwreck
Underwater archaeological work continues in the Bronze Age shipwreck off Antalya Kumluca, one of the oldest shipwrecks in the world. During the underwater archaeological excavations carried out in the Bronze Age shipwreck dated to the 16th century BC, 2 lead weights weighing 22 and 44 gr were found. Source: Arkeonews
November 30, 2022
Roman-era statue found in Osmaniye
A marble statue has been found during the sewerage and infrastructure work in the Sumbas district of Osmaniye. Legal action has been taken against five workers who found the statue but did not inform the authorities. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
