In October 2025 archaeologists in Turkey unveiled several major finds that deepen our understanding of past societies and human migration. In western Anatolia near Ayvalık a previously unknown Ice‐Age land bridge has been proposed after the discovery of 138 Paleolithic stone tools across 10 sites, suggesting a new corridor by which early humans left Anatolia for Europe. Meanwhile near Denizli a 2,700-year-old sanctuary likely dedicated to the Phrygian mother-goddess (Matar/Cybele) was found, complete with rock monuments, twin rock-carved idols, a sacred cave and drainage features — shedding light on ancient Anatolian religious practices.
In the southeast at Şanlıurfa Castle archaeologists uncovered a richly decorated 1,500-year-old mosaic with Greek inscription, animal and botanical motifs, and some associated burials - offering fresh insight into the region's late Roman/early Byzantine Christian life. Also of note was the unearthing of a large 1,600-year-old wine production facility in the mountains of Adıyaman's Gerger district, with cisterns, grape‐processing equipment and industrial infrastructure, pointing to the scale and sophistication of late Roman era rural production in Anatolia. Together these discoveries span from Paleolithic migration, to Iron Age cults, and Roman industrial landscapes - illustrating the richness of Turkey's multi-layered archaeological heritage.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for October 2025. Have we missed anything? Please let us know by using Contact tab!
October 1, 2025
Ancient association building unearthed in Sagalassos
Excavations in the ancient city of Sagalassos in southwestern Türkiye have unearthed traces of a large communal structure believed to have been used by various Roman-era associations for gatherings, meals, weddings and other events nearly 1,800 years ago. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Anatolian obsidian blades found in Poland reveal Neolithic long-distance links
Scientists, in a recent study published in the European Journal of Archaeology, have identified three Neolithic obsidian blades discovered in Poland as originating from Mount Nemrut, a volcanic complex in Bitlis, eastern Türkiye. Source: Türkiye Today
Istanbul's iconic landmarks illuminated with digital art in Culture Route Festival
As part of the Istanbul Culture Route Festival, organized under the coordination of Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, video mapping shows are transforming the city's historic landmarks each evening until Oct. 5. From 8 p.m. to midnight, Galata Tower, the Maiden's Tower, and the Tophane Fountain are being brought to life through digital projections blending art, history, and music. Source: Türkiye Today
13,000 artifacts, 2,700 from the US ─ Türkiye reunites with its stolen history
The United States, which returned 104 historical artifacts to Türkiye, including a statue of Marcus Aurelius, has become the country that has repatriated the most cultural assets in recent years. Source: Türkiye TodayA new environmental impact assessment process has begun for a stone-crushing and screening plant planned in Türkiye's southern province of Antalya, located right next to the ancient city of Patara. Source: Türkiye Today
Site of fortress conquered by Ottoman founder Osman I in early 1300s identified
Researchers in Türkiye have identified the location of Cadirli Fortress, one of the earliest strongholds conquered by Osman Ghazi (Osman I), the founder of the Ottoman state, in the early 14th century. Source: Türkiye Today
160-Year-Old Church in Çeşme Turned Into Parking Lot: 300-Year-Old Statue Stolen
In the Altınyunus district of Çeşme, İzmir, a small 19th-century church has been left to decay after decades of neglect. Once home to a rare 300-year-old architectural statue of Jesus, the site has been looted, vandalized, and even turned into an informal parking lot. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Historic Greek Orthodox College in Istanbul faces decline as no new students enroll for 2025
The Phanar Greek Orthodox College, a landmark institution in the city's Fatih district, has announced that it will not enroll any new students for the 2025–26 academic year. Source: Türkiye Today
October 2, 2025
Ancient Hittite workshop in Türkiye's Yozgat ravaged by illegal excavations
In Yozgat's Sorgun district, an archaeological site believed to date back 3,200 years has come under threat from treasure hunters carrying out unauthorized digs. Source: Türkiye Today
Türkiye extends night visits at Ephesus, Side Galata Tower until November 2025
Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that nighttime visits to Ephesus, Side, and Galata Tower will continue until Nov. 2, 2025, following strong public demand. Source: Türkiye Today
Ancient bathhouse unearthed in Türkiye's Olympos reveals life of Byzantine bishop
Archaeologists in Antalya's Kumluca district have uncovered a large bathhouse attached to a Byzantine bishop's residence in the ancient city of Olympos. Source: Türkiye Today
Sacred precinct of Phrygian Mother Goddess Matar uncovered at Türkiye's Attouda
Archaeologists working on the ancient city of Attouda in Denizli have brought to light a sacred area dedicated to the Phrygian Mother Goddess Matar, dating roughly 2,600 to 2,800 years ago. Source: Türkiye Today
8 ancient burials unearthed at Neolithic settlement of Türkiye's Cayonu Hill
Archaeologists working at Cayonu Hill, one of the most important Neolithic sites in world archaeology, have uncovered eight burials during the 2025 excavation season in Türkiye's southeastern Diyarbakir province. Source: Türkiye Today
1,800-Year-Old Vase with Masked Actor Depiction Unearthed in Aigai Now on Display
A rare terracotta vase featuring a depiction of an ancient theatrical mask has been unearthed during excavations at the ancient city of Aigai in western Türkiye. Dated to around 1,800 years ago, the artifact is now on display at the Manisa Archaeological Museum and is considered one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in Anatolia. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 3, 2025
1,800-year-old agora discovered in Metropolis
An 1,800-year-old agora, believed to have been the commercial center during the Roman period, has been unearthed in excavations in the ancient city of Metropolis, known as the “City of the Mother Goddess,” in İzmir. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 4, 2025
Large Byzantine bath unearthed in Olympos Ancient City [https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/large-byzantine-bath-unearthed-in-olym...
Archaeologists have uncovered a large bath complex in the ancient city of Olympos in the southwestern province of Antalya's Kumluca during ongoing excavations as part of the Culture and Tourism Ministry's Heritage for the Future Project. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Egyptian Tutu figure found at Sagalassos carved into Afyon marble
Archaeologists at the ancient city of Sagalassos in Burdur's Aglasun district announced on Saturday that an Egyptian god Tutu figure unearthed in a Roman-era bathhouse was carved using engraving techniques into slabs made from Afyon marble. Source: Türkiye Today
Unique in the World: The Eros Mosaic from Yumurtalık Shows the God of Love Fishing on a Hippocampus
Discovered during rescue excavations in 2013 in the coastal town of Yumurtalık (ancient Aegeai) in southern Türkiye, the mosaic depicts the love god Eros fishing while riding a Hippocampus—a half-horse, half-fish sea creature. Scholars describe it as a one-of-a-kind example in the entire Mediterranean world. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 6, 2025
Receding Kayseri dam waters uncover four lost settlements
The receding waters of Gümüşören Dam in the central province of Kayseri have unveiled the remains of four long-submerged settlements. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Seljuk-era stirrup unearthed in ancient city of Komana Pontika
Archaeologists have unearthed a stirrup dating back to the Seljuk period during excavations at the ancient city of Komana Pontika in the northern province of Tokat. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye's Krom Valley churches under lens of earthquake resilience
Gumushane University researchers are mapping how 40 historic churches in the Krom Valley have stood up to past earthquakes, building drone-based 3D models and running AI-assisted analyses to understand structural exposure and site choice. Source: Türkiye Today
Newly discovered walls at Urartu site Garibin Tepe excite archaeologists in Van
Newly discovered walls at Garibin Tepe, where Urartian-era structures and lion sculptures were previously unearthed, have excited archaeologists conducting excavations at the ancient site in Van's Tusba district. Source: Türkiye Today
12,000-year-old human-faced pillar unearthed in Karahantepe marks new chapter in archaeology
Türkiye's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced that archaeologists have uncovered a T-shaped pillar depicting a human face in Karahantepe—marking the first such discovery in history. Source: Türkiye Today
Archaeologists uncover 60 ancient tombs in western Türkiye
Archaeologists in the ancient city of Colossae in southwestern Türkiye's Denizli province have discovered 60 tombs estimated to be around 2,200 years old. Source: Daily Sabah
The 16th Italian Cultural Center Archaeology Symposium has wrapped up in Istanbul after bringing Italian and Turkish teams together to present new field results from major sites across Türkiye and to underscore how cultural diplomacy can move forward through long-running scientific cooperation. Source: Türkiye Today
Unbroken Life Through the Ages: 8,000 Years of Continuous Settlement Unearthed at Gökhöyük in Konya
Archaeologists in Türkiye's central province of Konya have uncovered evidence of an extraordinary 8,000-year span of continuous human habitation at Gökhöyük (also known as Kanal Höyük), located in the Seydişehir district. First identified by British archaeologist James Mellaart in 1954, the site reveals settlement layers dating from the 7th millennium BCE to the 1st millennium BCE, offering a rare window into uninterrupted life across the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 7, 2025
As part of the Culture Route Festival organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the “102 Artifacts for the 102nd Anniversary of the Republic” exhibition opened at the Arslantepe Visitor Center in Malatya. The showcase invites visitors to explore the roots of statehood and art in ancient Anatolia. For the first time, two remarkable finds from Arslantepe are on display: a 5,500-year-old cylinder seal believed to have belonged to the ruling elite, and a 3,000-year-old ivory plaque decorated with flame and leaf motifs — possibly a decorative element from ancient furniture. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Archaeologists Identify the Burial Chamber of Georgian King Ashot the Great at Gevhernik Castle
Archaeologists working at Gevhernik Castle in Ardanuç, northeastern Türkiye, have identified a vaulted burial chamber beneath the apse of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, believed to be the long-lost tomb of Georgian King Ashot I (Ashot the Great, Kuropalates) — a pivotal ruler in the formation of medieval Georgia. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 8, 2025
Nighttime museum visits bring new life to ancient city of Olympos
Visitor activity in Olympos, one of the most important cities of the Lycian civilization located in the Mediterranean province of Antalya's Kumluca district, increased with the nighttime museum initiative launched by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Topkapi Palace to unveil historic clock collection to visitors for the first time
Topkapi Palace's famed timepieces—long counted among the world's notable clock collections—will go on view for the first time in a new clock museum created inside the palace's Has Ahirlar (Royal Stables) with the theme “Time and Art at Topkapi Palace.” Source: Türkiye Today
Face carving found on T-pillar backs human figure theory
The discovery of a human face depiction on the surface of one of the T-shaped pillars at the Karahantepe excavation site in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa reinforces the theory that these stones symbolize human figures. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Göbeklitepe excavation season concludes with major discoveries
Excavation and restoration efforts at the world-renowned ancient site of Göbeklitepe have concluded for the 2025 season, according to Necmi Karul, dig team leader. Located in southeastern Türkiye, Göbeklitepe is the world's oldest known temple and a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back 12,000 years. Source: Daily Sabah
Türkiye's Kaunos excavation uncovers well-preserved church in monastery zone
Ongoing excavations at Kaunos, carried out within the “Heritage for the Future Project,” have brought to light a well-preserved church inside the walled monastery area. Source: Türkiye Today
Türkiye's Gobeklitepe reveals traces of rectangular dwellings alongside monumental structures
Archaeologists at Türkiye's world-famous Neolithic site Gobeklitepe have discovered traces of rectangular-planned structures believed to have served as dwellings, expanding the understanding of daily life at the “world's oldest cult center.” Source: Türkiye Today
The 1,800-year-old Saint George Church in Diyarbakır has reopened after a meticulous restoration, revealing a striking architectural feature: a brick dome resembling a human fingerprint. Believed to carry the personal mark of its ancient architect, the structure is drawing thousands of visitors and renewed global attention. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Seljuk Traces in St. Paul's Lystra: Oldest Examples of the Evil Eye Bead Found
Archaeological excavations in Lystra, the ancient city known from the Bible as one of the places visited by St. Paul the Apostle, have revealed Seljuk-era traces and turquoise-colored “evil eye” beads inside children's graves. Researchers believe these beads represent a cultural bridge — where Turkic beliefs merged with earlier Anatolian traditions, giving birth to the modern nazar boncuğu, a symbol now inseparable from Turkish identity. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Anatolia's Ancient Taste: 8,600-Year-Old Bread and 4,000-Year-Old Chickpeas Unearthed in Türkiye
Archaeological excavations supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism have brought to light the ancient taste of Anatolia, revealing extraordinary traces of the region's early culinary and agricultural traditions. From 4,000-year-old chickpeas in Kütahya to 8,600-year-old bread remnants in Konya, these discoveries show how ancient communities cultivated, prepared, and ritualized food thousands of years ago. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 9, 2025
Remains of Byzantine chapel, Ottoman bath unearthed in İznik
Excavations at the İznik Tile Kilns in the northwestern province of Bursa unearthed the remains of a Byzantine-era chapel and an Ottoman bath. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Artifacts repatriated from Switzerland showcased in Bodrum Castle
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has unveiled seven artifacts repatriated from Switzerland to Türkiye during a ceremony held at Bodrum Castle. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Gateway to east, door to west—Istanbul's historic Haydarpasa and Sirkeci reborn
Istanbul's twin railway landmarks, Haydarpasa and Sirkeci, are being reimagined as an integrated culture and arts campus under a joint heritage and urban renewal initiative by Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the State Railways Administration. Source: Türkiye Today
1,300-Year-Old Communion Bread Unearthed in Karaman: Inscribed “With Gratitude to Blessed Jesus”
Archaeologists have unearthed 1,300-year-old Communion bread — decorated barley loaves used in early Christian rituals — in the ancient city of Topraktepe (Eirenepolis), located in Türkiye's Karaman province. The excavations, conducted under the supervision of the Karaman Museum Directorate and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, uncovered five charred loaves dating to the 7th–8th centuries AD. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
2,000-Year-Old Tombs in Hierapolis Restored to Their Original Form
Archaeologists have completed a 100% authentic restoration in the Northern Necropolis of the ancient city of Hierapolis, revealing the grandeur of Anatolia's most impressive “city of the dead.” Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 10, 2025
Kerkenes dig uncovers graves tentatively tied to Proto-Turks in central Türkiye
Yozgat's Sorgun district hosts a new round of excavations at Kerkenes (the ancient city of Pteria), where a team has identified damaged graves that may connect with the kurgan-type mound-burial tradition and could, pending analysis, point to Proto-Turk presence in Anatolia during the late Iron Age. Source: Türkiye Today
3,200-year-old Hittite spring sanctuary keeps flowing despite drought in central Türkiye
In the Beysehir district of Konya, the 3,200-year-old Eflatun Pinar Hittite spring sanctuary—built during the Late Hittite Period around 1,200 B.C.—has proven remarkably resilient to modern climate change and drought. Rising over a natural spring, this monumental pool and relief wall complex has continued to provide water through the centuries, making it one of Türkiye's most enduring ancient hydraulic structures. Source: Türkiye Today
October 11, 2025
New inscriptions unearthed at Zernaki Tepe
Six new inscriptions have been discovered at the remains of an ancient grid-planned city in the eastern province of Van, where excavations have also revealed oval-shaped bastions and drainage channels once used to discharge water from the city walls. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
A Roman Marvel Carved by Hundreds of Slaves: The Titus Tunnel and Beşikli Cave
In the coastal cliffs of Samandağ in southern Türkiye, a monumental trace of Roman power still cuts through the heart of the mountain. Known as the Titus Tunnel, this massive hand-carved channel stands as both a triumph of Roman engineering and a silent testimony to the thousands of slaves and prisoners who shaped it nearly two thousand years ago. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 12, 2025
Iron Age public complex uncovered at Türkiye's ancient city of Sogmatar
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Sogmatar near the rural Yagmurlu neighborhood of Eyyubiye in Sanliurfa, Türkiye, have brought to light a large public building dated to roughly 3,000 years ago, in the Iron Age associated with the Neo-Assyrian period. Source: Türkiye Today
Ishak Pasha Palace begins groundwork to move from UNESCO tentative list to main register
Built in the Ottoman Tulip Era, Ishak Pasha Palace—already on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List since 2000—is taking first steps toward full inscription. Source: Türkiye Today
October 13, 2025
Traces of possible dwellings discovered at Göbeklitepe
Underground investigations at Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have revealed traces of rectangular structures that may have functioned as dwellings, in addition to the well-known monumental buildings. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Rare infant bone disease likely identified in 12th-century child from Türkiye's Aphrodisias
A bioarchaeological study has likely pinpointed a rare infant bone disorder in the skeleton of a child aged about 2.5–3.5 years, buried in the Middle Byzantine Tetrapylon Cemetery at Aphrodisias in southwestern Türkiye. Source: Türkiye Today
October 14, 2025
Arslantepe Mound Visitor Center unveils 7,000 years of history
The newly opened visitor center at Arslantepe Mound, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back 7,000 years, offers visitors a journey through time. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Marble-paved roads, drainage system uncovered at 2,000-year-old Roman theater in Iznik
Archaeologists working at the ancient Roman theater in Nicaea (modern-day Iznik, a district of Bursa in northwestern Türkiye) have uncovered new remains that shed light on both the architectural sophistication and spiritual transformation of the site. Source: Türkiye Today
Roman theater in Iznik reveals ancient passages, frescoes
Archaeological excavations in the western section of a 2,000-year-old Roman theater in Iznik, a district in Türkiye's northwestern province of Bursa, have unearthed new findings, including entrance and exit passages, marble pavements and a drainage system. Source: Daily Sabah
1,500-year-old mosaic surfaces beneath historic mill in Türkiye's Mardin
A late antique mosaic floor has come to light under a disused water mill in Midyat district, southeastern Türkiye, during a clean-up that quickly turned into a rescue excavation. The find features geometric panels and an inscription reading “Tittos Domestikos,” which, according to the site team, points to a structure associated with a civil administrator. Source: Türkiye Today
Türkiye's Karahantepe team studies Neolithic diet through microscopic plant traces
Archaeologists at Karahantepe in Sanliurfa are working to pin down what Neolithic communities ate by tracking microscopic plant residues preserved on house floors and grinding stones. The excavations, conducted under the Tas Tepeler (Stone Mounds) Project in Türkiye, are led by Professor Necmi Karul, who says the team is mapping where food was processed and stored inside buildings and how those spaces were used over time. Source: Türkiye Today
In a discovery that deepens our understanding of ancient Mesopotamian spiritual and civic life, archaeologists working under Türkiye's “Heritage for the Future” (Geleceğe Miras) project have uncovered a substantial public building dating to the Iron Age in the sacred site of Sogmatar. The find, located near Yağmurlu village in the Eyyübiye district, pushes the occupational and ritual chronology of the site further back than previously confirmed. Source: Arkeonews
October 15, 2025
Cave featuring St Paul fresco to open for tourism
A cave featuring a fresco of St. Paul, believed to date back to the fifth to seventh centuries A.D., in the ancient city of Syedra in Antalya's Alanya district will be opened to tourism following restoration and conservation work. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
1,800-year-old statue unearthed at Smyrna
Excavations at the western province of İzmir's ancient city of Smyrna have brought to light a remarkable 1,800-year-old Roman-era statue, standing 110 centimeters tall and 90 centimeters wide, offering new insights into the region's rich historical legacy. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Istanbul's historic Süleymaniye remains center of worship, society
Considered the pinnacle of Ottoman architecture, the Süleymaniye Mosque and Complex has maintained its grandeur since its opening in 1557, serving not only as a place of worship but also as a center of knowledge, art and civilization that shapes the spirit of Istanbul. Source: Daily Sabah
Türkiye seizes 13 Hebrew manuscripts in anti-smuggling raid
Gendarmerie teams in Ankara seized 13 handwritten Hebrew books believed to date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, detaining four suspects in an alleged heritage-smuggling attempt. Source: Türkiye Today
Six New Aramaic Inscriptions Unearthed at Ancient City of Zernaki Tepe in Eastern Türkiye [https://arkeonews.net/six-new-aramaic-inscriptions-unearthed-at-ancient-...
Archaeologists have discovered six new Aramaic inscriptions at Zernaki Tepe, a 3,000-year-old ancient city in eastern Türkiye's Van Province. The findings — including several deliberately erased inscriptions — shed new light on the Parthian-era presence in Eastern Anatolia and reveal traces of political conflict between ancient powers that once dominated the region. Source: Arkeonews
October 16, 2025
Rare 700-year-old millet cache emerges at ancient city of Becin in Türkiye
Archaeologists at the ancient city of Becin in Mugla's Milas district have uncovered a cache of millet seeds thought to date back 600–700 years. Source: Türkiye Today
Bathonea Excavations Reveal Olive Oil and Wine Workshop near Küçükçekmece Lake
Archaeologists working at the ancient harbor city of Bathonea, located on the shores of Lake Küçükçekmece in Istanbul's Avcılar district, have uncovered an olive oil and wine production complex dating to the Late Antiquity. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Archaeologists in southeastern Türkiye have identified a vast 4th-century Roman settlement in the mountains of Adıyaman's Gerger district, revealing evidence of industrial-scale wine production and rural life on the empire's eastern frontier. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 17, 2025
Archaeologists discover Roman settlement in Türkiye's Adıyaman
In a mountainous area near the village of Oymaklı in the southeastern Turkish city of Adıyaman, archaeologists have uncovered grape-processing installations, cisterns, grinding stones and building foundations dating to the 4th century CE. Source: Daily Sabah
St. George Church restoration set to open fresh window on Cappadocia
The restoration of the historic St. George Church in Yesilhisar, the district known as Cappadocia's gate in Kayseri, is expected to bring a new tourism boost to the region once works are finished. Local stakeholders say the site will move quickly into the list of must-see destinations in Cappadocia. Source: Türkiye Today
Over 30 sunken huts uncovered at Karahantepe reveal daily life in Neolithic Türkiye
Archaeologists working at Karahantepe in Sanliurfa, within the Tas Tepeler (Stone Mounds) Project area, have uncovered more than 30 small sunken huts used in everyday life by Neolithic communities. Source: Türkiye Today
October 18, 2025
Tigem Castle findings reveal Iron Age past
Archaeological excavations at the Tigem Castle in the eastern province of Ardahan's Göle district have unveiled new findings that shed light on the traces of the Iron Age in the region. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
8,000-Year-Old Life Traces Unearthed in Delikli Cave, Bitlis: From Prehistory to the Urartians
Archaeologists excavating Delikli Cave in Türkiye's Bitlis Province have uncovered traces of human life dating back 8,000 years — including obsidian tools, handmade pottery, Urartian-era burials, and medieval building remains — revealing a rare continuum of settlement from prehistory through the Middle Ages. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 19, 2025
Ancient cuneiform tablets from 1500-1400 BC discovered in excavations
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on Sunday that cuneiform-inscribed tablets dating to approximately 1500-1400 BCE have been discovered during excavations at Accana Mound in Hatay's Reyhanli district. Source: Türkiye Today
Archaeologists have unearthed a lost archive of the Mitanni Empire, including dozens of Akkadian cuneiform tablets and seal impressions belonging to a previously unknown Hittite prince, during excavations at the ancient city of Alalakh (Aççana Höyük) in southern Türkiye's Hatay Province. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 20, 2025
Protective shelter completed over House of the Muses
The construction of a protective shelter has been completed over the House of the Muses in the southeastern province of Gaziantep's ancient city of Zeugma, preserving its world-renowned mosaics from environmental damage while enhancing visitor access to this iconic Roman villa. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
5th-century Greek inscribed mosaic discovered at Urfa Castle
Excavations at Urfa Castle, south of the Balikligol settlement, have unearthed a fifth-century floor mosaic inscribed in Greek, featuring botanical motifs, animal figures, and geometric elements, according to excavation officials. Source: Türkiye Today
October 21, 2025
Ancient Hittite tablets found in Türkiye reveal insights into Bronze Age Anatolia
Archaeologists have uncovered new cuneiform tablets and seal impressions dating to the Late Bronze Age at Oylum Mound (Hoyuk) in Kilis, southeastern Türkiye, revealing evidence of Hittite administrative and literary activity in the region. Source: Türkiye Today
Burned house from 4,500 years ago, 2,300-year-old fort emerge in Türkiye's Denizli
Archaeologists in Denizli's Cal district say this year's excavation at Asagiseyit Hoyuk—hoyuk means an ancient settlement mound—exposed a burned house dating back 4,500 years and the curtain wall of a Hellenistic-period fort roughly 2,300 years old. Source: Türkiye Today
October 22, 2025
İznik Basilica prepared for Pope Leo XIV's visit
The basilica located just off the shores of Lake Iznik in the northwestern province of Bursa is being prepared to welcome Pope Leo XIV, head of the Catholic Church and the Vatican City State, at the end of November. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Kars stands out with Baltic architectural heritage
Around 170 examples of Baltic-style architecture built by Dutch architects during the 40-year Russian rule in the eastern province of Kars have become a major attraction for tourists seeking cultural experiences. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye's Nicaea excavation charts 300 years of Roman, Early Byzantine burial rites
Archaeologists in the ancient city of Nicaea (modern-day Iznik, a district of Bursa in northwestern Türkiye) are documenting the city's Roman and Early Byzantine mortuary landscape at Hisardere, a burial ground (necropolis) used from the second century until the late fifth century. Source: Türkiye Today
Shops unearthed at agora of ancient city Hyllarima in southwestern Türkiye
Archaeologists have uncovered a series of ancient shops at the heart of Hyllarima, an ancient city in the Kavaklidere district of Mugla province in southwestern Türkiye. The discovery sheds new light on the layout and commercial life of one of the oldest settlements in the inland region of ancient Caria. Source: Türkiye Today
Seeds of the afterlife at Türkiye's Kulluoba reveal Early Bronze Age mourning rites
Archaeologists at Kulluoba Hoyuk, a prehistoric settlement mound continuously inhabited from 3,200 to 1,950 BCE, have uncovered burned seeds and plant remains scattered into graves, pointing to an Early Bronze Age burial practice that treated death as a passage rather than an end. Source: Türkiye Today
Türkiye nabs smugglers trying to sell 1,500-year-old Roman-era mosaic
Turkish gendarmerie units have uncovered a 1,500-year-old Roman-era floor mosaic hidden under concrete in Mardin's Derik district during an anti-smuggling operation, after suspects allegedly attempted to sell the ancient artifact on the black market. Source: Daily Sabah
12,000-Year-Old Underwater Rock Paintings Discovered Beneath Atatürk Dam in Southeastern Türkiye
Archaeologists in Türkiye have documented rock engravings dating back more than 12,000 years beneath the waters of the Atatürk Dam in Adıyaman Province — a discovery shedding new light on the prehistoric communities that once lived along the Euphrates basin. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 23, 2025
Visitors flock to Roman Bath in Stratonikeia
The Roman Bath in the ancient city of Stratonikeia — known as one of the world's largest marble cities founded in the third century BCE in the southwestern province of Muğla's Yatağan district — has been fully excavated, unveiling a stunning testament to its historical grandeur. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient inscriptions shed light on Sebastopolis' past
Archaeologists have discovered three inscriptions during this year's excavations at the ancient city of Sebastopolis in the northern province of Tokat's Sulusaray district. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Villager's awareness saves 700-year-old gravestones in Türkiye's Tunceli [https://www.turkiyetoday.com/culture/villagers-awareness-saves-700-year-...
In the Mazgirt district of Tunceli, eastern Türkiye, centuries-old gravestones have been rescued thanks to a villager's keen awareness. The stones, estimated to be around 700 years old, were identified in Ibimahmut village and taken under protection by museum officials. Source: Türkiye Today
1,500-Year-Old Greek Mosaic Unearthed at Urfa Castle Reveals Names of Early Byzantine Clergy
Archaeologists working at the ancient Urfa Castle in southeastern Türkiye have uncovered a 5th-century Greek-inscribed floor mosaic decorated with intricate plant, animal, and geometric motifs. The discovery, believed to belong to a small church, chapel, or martyr shrine, provides new insights into the religious and social hierarchy of the early Byzantine city of Edessa — modern Şanlıurfa. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 24, 2025
Fishermen haul 3-ton historic anchor off Canakkale coast
A fishing crew in Türkiye's Canakkale province brought up an anchor weighing about 3 tons that local officials estimate to be 150–200 years old, after it snagged on their nets off the Aegean coast. Source: Türkiye Today
Rocks licked by goats in central Türkiye identified as medieval gravestones
In a surprising discovery, villagers in northern Türkiye learned that the rocks their goats had been licking for salt were not ordinary stones but centuries-old gravestones from a forgotten medieval battlefield. Source: Türkiye Today
October 25, 2025
New excavation area in Göbeklitepe to open to visitors soon
A new excavation area at Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the “zero point of history,” is preparing to welcome visitors. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Remains of a Roman hippodrome found in Türkiye's Kayseri, once capital of Cappadocia
Named after the Roman imperial title Caesar, Kayseri has revealed traces of a Roman-era hippodrome (circus)—only the third such racecourse ever found in Anatolia—following extensive map studies and geophysical surveys. Source: Türkiye Today
World's 1st Akkad king Sargon returns to life as Turkish museum displays ancient statues
Two limestone statues of King Sargon, regarded as the first Akkad known ruler, have been unveiled at a museum in southeastern Türkiye. The sculptures are part of the “Road of Civilizations” project, which highlights ancient stone artifacts from Mesopotamian history. Source: Türkiye Today
Bronze Bust of Egyptian Goddess Isis Unearthed in Satala, the Base of Legio XV Apollinaris
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Satala in northeastern Turkey have uncovered a rare 20-centimeter bronze bust of the Egyptian goddess Isis. The discovery offers new insights into the cultural and religious landscape of the Roman Empire's eastern frontier. Source: Arkeonews
Karahantepe excavations point to 12,000-year settlement tradition in southeast Türkiye
Archaeologists working at Karahantepe in Sanliurfa say the site preserves both everyday dwellings and large public buildings, offering fresh answers to the long-running “worship center or settlement?” debate around nearby Gobeklitepe. Source: Türkiye Today
4,500-Year-Old ‘Gifted Graves' Unearthed at Ikiztepe Mound in Northern Türkiye
Archaeologists working at the prehistoric site of Ikiztepe Mound in northern Türkiye have uncovered two extraordinary burials — one belonging to a hunter and the other to a child — each interred with personal items. The discovery sheds new light on Bronze Age beliefs, burial customs, and social organization in one of Anatolia's most enduring settlements. Source: Arkeonews
October 26, 2025
Zeugma Mosaic Museum sets record with nearly 500,000 visitors in 2025
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, home to the world-renowned "Gypsy Girl" mosaic and other treasured artifacts from antiquity, has reached its highest visitor numbers since opening in 2011, drawing 482,436 visitors from the start of the year through late October. Source: Türkiye Today
October 27, 2025
Türkiye to submit cultural route proposal to Council of Europe
Türkiye is set to propose its homegrown cultural route to the Council of Europe, marking the first time the country has submitted its own cultural route for certification under the Cultural Routes program. If approved, the "Evliya Çelebi Route” will highlight the 17th-century Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi's 46-year journey across 250 cities in 17 countries, officially becoming part of the prestigious European Cultural Routes network. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye's archaeologists reconnect with Roman Empire's eastern legions
A new historical overview reveals how four Roman legions—stationed in Melitene (Malatya), Zeugma (Gaziantep), Samosata (Adiyaman) and Satala (Kelkit)—secured the empire's eastern frontier for centuries and transformed Anatolia's landscape. Source: Türkiye Today
Türkiye's Pompeiopolis unearths shrine pointing to future Christian pilgrimage hub
Archaeologists in Pompeiopolis, located in Kastamonu's Taskopru district of Türkiye, have uncovered evidence of a memorial shrine built to honor a Christian saint, suggesting the ancient city could one day become a pilgrimage center. Source: Türkiye Today
13,000-Year-Old Bone Tools and Beads Unearthed in Direkli Cave Reveal Early Anatolian Craftsmanship
Archaeologists working at Direkli Cave in Kahramanmaraş, southeastern Türkiye, have uncovered bone tools and ornamental beads dating back approximately 13,000 years — offering a vivid glimpse into the technological and symbolic sophistication of the region's prehistoric inhabitants. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 28, 2025
Topkapi Palace's historic 'cat door' back in use, revived by Serbet—the granddaughter of Mulayim
The Topkapi Palace has restored a tiny “cat door” in the Karaaagalar Kogusu inside the Harem, allowing the palace's resident cats to move freely once again. The passage, a long part of daily palace routines, has returned to life with Serbet—the granddaughter of Mulayim, a palace cat thought to have gone missing three years ago—leading the way. Source: Türkiye Today
Iznik Lake Basilica, ranked among world's top 10 archaeological finds, opens to visitors
The Iznik (historically known as Nicaea) Lake Basilica Site Welcome Center, developed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, has opened to receive visitors, adding a new layer to Iznik's cultural landscape in Türkiye. Source: Türkiye Today
Iznik reveals 400-square-meter Roman mosaic as Pope Leo XIV visit fuels momentum
A vast Roman-era floor mosaic measuring about 400 square meters has been uncovered in Iznik, Bursa, Türkiye, shortly after the headline-making discovery of a basilica (an early Christian church building) beneath the bed of Iznik Lake. Source: Türkiye Today
Digital Pathways to the Hittite World: AI and Archaeology Unite to Decode an Ancient Empire
A new research initiative from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) is reshaping how scholars study the Hittite Empire—one of the most formidable powers of Bronze Age Anatolia. The project, titled “Digital Pathways to the Hittite World,” merges archaeology, philology, and artificial intelligence to transform the long-standing Hethitologie-Portal Mainz (HPM) into a next-generation research platform. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
Historic Unkapanı Mill to be transformed into university campus
The heart of Ottoman Istanbul's bread production, the historic Unkapanı Mill, is being restored under a joint project by Ibn Haldun University and the Fatih Municipality. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
October 29, 2025
House walls built with Emperor Caracalla's ancient letter astonish archaeologists in Türkiye
In the quiet village of Yarisli in Burdur's Yesilova district, near the ancient city of Takina, locals once carried stones by horse cart to build a family home. Decades later, archaeologists identified these very stones as fragments of a letter written by Roman Emperor Caracalla, who ruled between the late second and early third centuries. Source: Türkiye Today
Silk workshop unearthed in castle excavation
Archaeologists have unearthed an ancient silk workshop in the “Simitçi Castle” area during excavations at the ancient city of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum, located in the Gölyazı neighborhood of Bursa's Nilüfer district— one of Europe's most scenic towns. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Ancient Market and Water System Unearthed in the Carian City of Hyllarima, Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Hyllarima in Muğla's Kavaklıdere district have uncovered a series of well-preserved shop units and water channels in the city's agora, revealing new insights into urban planning and daily life in inland Caria over two millennia ago. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
October 30, 2025
Bone tools, beads unearthed in Direkli Cave
Archaeological excavations at Direkli Cave in the southern province of Kahramanmaraş have uncovered two bone piercing tools (awls) and four perforated beads dating back around 13,000 years. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Kahramanmaraş's Grand Bazaar revives again
The historic Grand Bazaar of Kahramanmaraş, a cherished landmark of the city, is undergoing extensive restoration and reconstruction to revive it after sustaining severe damage in the devastating earthquakes of Feb. 6, 2023. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye's Sardis reveals its secrets through a 65-year Harvard-Cornell project
The ancient city of Sardis, once the capital of the Lydian Empire and now part of Türkiye's UNESCO World Heritage list, continues to yield discoveries through one of the world's longest-running archaeological collaborations. Source: Türkiye Today
October 31, 2025
Ancient road emerges as water level drops in Lake Van
A historic stone road leading to Çarpanak Island in eastern Lake Van has reappeared as water levels continue to recede, exposing nearly 80 percent of the 1-kilometer-long route. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Archaeologists working at Küllüoba Mound in Türkiye’s Eskişehir province have uncovered a striking find that sheds light on the emotional world of Early Bronze Age communities. A 5,000-year-old pithos grave (burial jar) features a hand relief with one finger missing — a detail researchers believe may symbolize an ancient expression of grief or mourning. Source: Anatolian Archaeology
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