The most exciting archaeological discoveries announced in Turkey in October 2023 were a 3,000-year-old necropolis found in Batman Province, a 5,000-year-old Mother Goddess statuette unearthed in Yeşilova Mound in Izmir, and 2 cuneiform inscriptions and a new Urartian temple revealed by the excavations at Körzüt Castle. Moreover, Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum opened in Istanbul, and it was announced that street and house ruins from the Early Byzantine and Late Roman Period, unearthed during the excavations at Marmaray's Sirkeci Station will be opened to visitors by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Finally, thirty-seven pieces of historical artefacts returned by Switzerland will be exhibited at the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara after the completion of conservation and restoration works.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for October 2023. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
October 3, 2023
‘Göbeklitepe discoveries never end,’ says head of excavations
Speaking about the statues found in Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, the head of Göbeklitepe excavations, Professor Necmi Karul said, "Göbeklitepe is one of the settlements on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but its discoveries have not ended and will continue to excite us from now on." Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 5, 2023
Ulucak Mound (Ulucak Höyük), one of the oldest neolithic settlements dating back to 6800 BC, male and female figurines evaluated to date back to 5,700 BC were unearthed. Source: Arkeonews
October 6, 2023
Archeologists discover Byzantine abbey in Ordu
Researchers have unearthed an abbey during the ongoing excavation work in the area known for ancient Roman-era tomb in the northern province of Ordu. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 9, 2023
A 1,700-year-old trident discovered in Assos ancient city in Türkiye
An iron trident, believed to be used for fishing, dating to the 3rd or 4th century A.D. has been discovered in the ancient Aegean coastal resort town of Assos in northwestern Turkey. Source: Arkeonews
October 11, 2023
Turkish, Italian team to start works on leaning minaret
A team of Turkish and Italian scientists is set to undertake a fortification project for a historical mosque's minaret, known for its resemblance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Fire danger looms at Grand Bazaar due to infrastructure issues: Expert
The Grand Bazaar, one of Istanbul's most significant historical structures, has faced the danger of a possible large-scale fire due to inadequate and maintenance-needing infrastructure issues, especially electrical cables, an expert has warned. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
3500-year-old mysterious hieroglyphs discovered in Yerkapı Tunnel in Hattusa deciphered
Some of the Anatolian hieroglyphs discovered last year in the Yerkapı Tunnel in Hattusa, the former capital of the Hittite Empire, were deciphered. The hieroglyphs contain the name and title of the individual in charge of the tunnel’s construction. Source: Arkeonews
October 15, 2023
Digital museum opens in Ephesus
The Ephesus Experience Museum, where visitors travel back in time in the mystical atmosphere of the ancient world, has been opened in the ancient city of Ephesus in İzmir. The museum offers an entirely mesmerizing experience of seeing the daily life of the Roman Empire, the grandeur of the Temple of Artemis, and the magnificent atmosphere of the Celsus Library. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 16, 2023
3,000-year-old necropolis found in Batman
A 3,000-year-old necropolis has been unearthed during the excavations carried out in the Cehennem Deresi (Hell Creek), which is located in the Bağözü village in Gercüş district of Batman. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Historic Levantine mansion to open doors in 2024
The western province of İzmir’s largest Levantine mansion, long neglected and formerly owned by a family engaged in trade during the Ottoman era, will open its doors to visitors as a museum and cultural art space in the first half of 2024. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 18, 2023
2500-year-old Persian ancient palace dish discovered in Oluz Höyük, Türkiye
A 2,500-year-old earthenware pot containing bone fragments and grains from the Persian-era palace kitchen was discovered during archaeological excavations at the Oluz Höyük (Oluz Mound) in Amasya province in northern Türkiye. Source: Arkeonews
October 20, 2023
Nymph statue turns out to be Aphrodite
A nymph (water fairy) statue, which was found 3 meters below the surface during the excavations carried out in the ancient city of Amastris, has been determined to be a statue of Aphrodite. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Retrieved artifacts to adorn shelves of Anatolian Civilizations Museum
Thirty-seven pieces of historical artifacts returned by Switzerland will be exhibited at the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara after the completion of conservation and restoration works. The artifacts, mostly bronze objects from the Early Bronze Age, Urartian and Roman periods and the oldest of which dates back to 3,000 years ago, have been delivered to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in the capital Ankara. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum opens
Restoration works initiated in 2015 in the old Zeytinburnu Municipality building have brought to light an ancient mosaic structure. Also, a cist-type tomb, a marble sarcophagus and skeletons were unearthed in an area adjacent to the building and used as a parking lot as part of the ongoing works in 2021. The area, which has been under protection, was opened as the Mosaic Museum at Kazlıçeşme Sanat Complex. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 24, 2023
‘Nano lime’ protects statues on Nemrut
The tiny cracks on the large stone statues at Mount Nemrut in the southeastern province of Adıyaman were filled with “nano lime” with syringes last year for their protection and officials announced that it worked. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 25, 2023
Ancient ruins to open to visitors in Sarayburnu
Street and house ruins from the Early Byzantine and Late Roman Period, unearthed during the excavations at Marmaray's Sirkeci Station in 2009-2011, will be opened to visitors by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) in the second stage of Sarayburnu Park at the Istanbul Historic Peninsula Model Exhibition. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 26, 2023
5,000 years old Mother Goddess statuette unearthed in Yeşilova Mound
A Mother Goddess statuette, determined to be 5 thousand years old, was found during the excavations carried out in the Yeşilova Mound (Yeşilova Höyük) in the Bornova district, which contains the ruins of the oldest settlement in Izmir. Source: Arkeonews
Excavations at Körzüt Castle unearth 2 cuneiform inscriptions and a new Urartian Susi temple
During the rescue excavations carried out at the Körzüt Castle in the Muradiye district of Van province in eastern Turkey, 2 cuneiform inscriptions and a 2800-year-old Urartian Susi temple were found. Susi Temple: A kind of temple found in Urartu, which is a square, single-chambered tower-like buildings. Source: Arkeonews
Atatürk Mansion ready for 100th anniversary
The restoration process has come to an end at the Atatürk Mansion in the northern province of Trabzon, where modern Türkiye founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed and wrote his will. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 31, 2023
The story of 500 years of cityscapes
The new exhibition from the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation’s two institutions, Pera Museum and the Istanbul Research Institute, “On the Spot: Panoramic Gaze on Istanbul, a History” offers viewers a new look on Istanbul’s role in the global history of panoramic representation. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey to Charge Hagia Sophia Entrance Fee for Foreign Tourists
Turkey unveiled plans for a visitor management policy at Hagia Sophia, including charging foreign tourists with an entrance fee to be implemented starting Jan. 15. Source: Greek Reporter
The ruins of the world’s largest and oldest ancient shipyard were found in the north of the island of Dana, located along the coastline of the Silifke district of Mersin province in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye. Source: Arkeonews
