October 2015 in Turkish archaeology

The Temple of Apollo in Gülpınar
The Temple of Apollo in Gülpınar

Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for October 2015. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!

Oct 1, 2015

Underground city in Bayburt looking for promotion

A 3,000-year-old underground city that was discovered in 1988 in the northern province of Bayburt needs attention to attract more tourists. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Discovery of amulet changes history of Ephesus

The history of the ancient city of Ephesus was believed to have stretched back 8,000 years ago, but the discovery of an amulet shows that it is at least one millennium older. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

British archaeologist´s 19th century engraving found on Turkey’s Mount Ida

A local tourist has discovered names engraved on walls in the cave of Shepherd Paris on Mount Ida in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, thought to belong to 19th century British archaeologist Frank Calvert. Calvert is known as the first archaeologist to carry out excavation works at the ancient site of Troy, between 1863 and 1865. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Excavations end at the ancient site of Patara 

This year’s excavation work at the ancient site of Patara, located in the southern province of Antalya, has recently concluded. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 2, 2015

Ankara’s ‘Aspendos’ left to its fate

According to daily Hürriyet, a 2,000 year-old ancient theater discovered during excavations in one of Ankara’s oldest neighborhoods, Ulus, was restored with white marble by the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality two years ago. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Terror decreases visitors at Urartian castle

The Urartian-era Çavuştepe Castle in the eastern province of Van’s Gürpınar district has had its worst year in terms of visitors compared to the last 53 years. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Excavations end at ancient Soli

Excavation works on the ancient site of Soli Pompeiopolis have ended for the season in the southern province of Mersin’s Mezitli district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 5, 2015

Ancient tombs in Fethiye cleaned after controversy

The Amintas Tombs in Fethiye have been cleaned by museum officials after news that locals were using them as storage space roused controversy. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Dig uncovers gladiatorial ring in an ancient Cilician city of Turkey

The long reach of the Roman Empire was felt in southern Turkey, where in the town of Anazarbus the Romans erected a triumphal arch after defeating a Parthian force in the first century BC and where gladiators fought wild beasts in a well-preserved stadium. Source: Ancient Origins

Oct 6, 2015

Lost species of Anatolia unearthed in Ephesus

Bones unearthed during archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Ephesus in Turkey’s west have newly revealed that species such as leopard and rhino existed in the region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Battle field of gladiators found in Anavarza

Ongoing excavations in the 2,000-year-old ancient city of Anavarza, located in the southern province of Adana’s Dilekkaya village, have unearthed a battle field of gladiators for the first time. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 7, 2015

Historic structures damaged in Diyarbakır

The historic city walls of Diyarbakır, as well as two churches and a mosque, were damaged during clashes in the central district of Sur. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Battlefield of gladiators found in 2,000-year-old ancient city in southern Turkey

Ongoing excavations in the 2,000-year-old ancient city of Anavarza, located in the southern province of Adana's Dilekkaya village, have unearthed a battle field of gladiators for the first time. Source: Daily Sabah

Exhibition traces 20th-century archaeologist across Anatolia

British Professor John Garstang (1876-1956) was among the pioneering figures who contributed significantly to the study of archaeology in Turkey and the Near East. Source: Today's Zaman

Oct 8, 2015

Suleiman the Magnificent's route to Rhodes detailed

Eight scientists from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman, Sakarya and Pamukkale universities are conducting research concerning the route from Bozüyük to Marmaris that Suleiman the Magnificent followed in 1522 during his Rhodes campaign. Source: Daily Sabah

Oct 9, 2015

Excavations to shed light on ancient trade

Kayseri’s Kültepe mound was the trade hub of the Middle East. New excavations hope to provide more information on this ancient hub. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

12 gladiator tombs to be displayed in Muğla

Built over 1,800 years ago, 12 gladiator tombs will be on display for visitors at the entrance of the ancient city of Stratonicea, which is situated in Muğla's Yatağan district, also known as "the city of gladiators". Source: Daily Sabah

In the footsteps of a pioneer archaeologist

Alan M. Greaves, the interim chair of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Liverpool, talked to Daily Sabah about his ANAMED exhibition: ‘John Garstang's Footsteps Across Anatolia'. Source: Daily Sabah

Oct 13, 2015

New findings shed light on Temple of Apollo

New findings obtained at the Temple of Apollo, located in the village of Gülpınar in the northwestern province of Çanakkale’s Ayvacık district, have revealed a residence, revealing plans and gardens of various eras. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 15, 2015

Hatay’s Roman temple to surface during works

A Roman-era temple, which was discovered in 1932 in Hatay, is being unearthed during excavations that have been continuing for the past two years. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 16, 2015

Istanbul’s lost island may come to light

The historical Vordonisi Island, which is 700 meters away from the Maltepe shore and known as Istanbul’s lost island, has been brought to light with the support of the Maltepe Municipality. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Traces of trade on UNESCO list

The Kültepe Tablets, the earliest written documentation of life in Anatolia, have been included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 19, 2015

Secret tunnel found in historical castle

A secret tunnel has been discovered in Gevale Castle, located on the Takkel Mountain in the Central Anatolian province of Konya’s Selçuklu district, which had been home to many civilizations during the Hittite, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Karamanids and Ottoman eras. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Sunken vessels and items found in metro project to be displayed 

A new archaeology park will be constructed to display sunken vessels and other items unearthed during the Yenikapı archeological excavations, revealing important findings related to the history of Istanbul. Source: Daily Sabah

Oct 20, 2015

Dig sheds light on devotional life on Giresun Island

Graves found during excavations on Giresun Island in Turkey’s Black Sea region indicate that religious life was dominant on the island, which featured a complete monastery complex. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Medusa Sculpture Unearthed in Turkey

A sculpture of Medusa’s head has been unearthed in southern Turkey at the first-century Roman site of Antiochia ad Cragum. Source: Archaeology. A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America

1,600-year-old mosaic looted from historic church in Aegean town of Bodrum

A mosaic depicting a nun has been looted from a 1,600-year-old historic church at a popular bay area of the Turkish resort town of Bodrum, sparking angry reactions from environmental advocacy groups amid rumors of tourism investment plans in the bay area. Source: BGN News

Oct 21, 2015

Treasure hunters destroying precious Thracian relics in Turkey 

Crucial findings in ancient Heraion-Teikhos in Turkey’s Thracian province of Tekirdağ, which illuminates the life of the ancient Thracian people, are being threatened by illegal treasure hunters, according to the head of the excavations in the field. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 23, 2015

Little-known ancient city in İzmir subject of new documentary

The ancient city of Atarneus in İzmir’s Dikili district has become the subject of a new documentary, shot by producer and director brothers Serdar and Sercan Gazi. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

2,800-year-old pithos tombs unearthed in Turkey’s eastern Van province

Nearly 40 archaeological experts at an excavation site in Turkey's eastern Van province have uncovered 2,800-year-old pithos, or large ceramic storage containers, which have reportedly been used as tombs during the reign of the Urartian Kingdom, which centered around Lake Van established in 860 BC. Source: Daily Sabah

Oct 24, 2015

Ancient shipwrecks found in Istanbul's Yenikapı shed light on ancient ship production

An inventory of the types of wood used in the production of 37 sunken ships discovered in Istanbul’s Yenikapı neighborhood during the construction of the city’s Marmaray subway project has been taken, shedding light on ancient ship production techniques. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 26, 2015

Rare Ottoman-era banknote discovered at collection house

Issued in 1849 upon the order of Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid, a never before seen 5th emission was discovered at an Ankara-based collection house. Source: Daily Sabah

Oct 27, 2015

Historical hunting lodge to serve tourism

A hunting lodge built by Czar Nicholas II of Russia in the eastern province of Kars during the Russian occupation era will be restored and reopened to serve as a hotel. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Gilded Bible seized in Tokat

During a police operation in the northern province of Tokat, a nearly millennia-old gilded Bible has been seized, while 10 people were taken into custody as part of the operation. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Restored historic hammam in Şanlıurfa opens to visitors

The historical Vizier Turkish Bath in Şanlıurfa, which has operated as a public bath for three centuries, has opened for visitors following restoration. Source: Daily Sabah

Oct 28, 2015

Finding the sacred on Mount Latmos

A second sacred area on Mount Latmos is raising excitement among archaeologists working on the area, which was of great importance in antiquity. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Oct 30, 2015

Troy National Park to be renovated

The Forestry and Water Affairs Ministry approved the Troy Historical National Park's Term Development Revision Plan, which enables the investments that the ministry has been planning to make for the national park to move forward. Source: Daily Sabah

Vatican archive shares Ottoman map with American and Turkish universities

Vatican City, which has the richest archive in the world, and Istanbul Aydın University signed a historical agreement to allow the documents related to the Ottoman Empire and early Republican-era to be made available to the public in Turkish and English. Source: Daily Sabah

Oct 31, 2015

Turkey’s first underwater museum opens in Side

Turkey's first underwater museum, which includes 110 pieces of sculptures positioned on the seabed, 1.5 nautical miles off the coast of Turkey's southern resort town of Side, opened on Saturday. Source: Daily Sabah