January 2026 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 02/01/2026 - 09:16

January 2026 brought a concentrated wave of archaeological breakthroughs in Turkey, spanning nearly a million years of human history. Highlights included new evidence pushing early human presence in Anatolia deep into the Ice Age, transformative Neolithic research at Çayönü Hill and Çatalhöyük, and a 7,500-year-old stone seal from the Upper Euphrates. Ancient power structures were rethought through an 8th-century BCE Phrygian royal tomb far from Gordion and the first local Aramaic inscription of the Hellenistic Kingdom of Sophene, offering rare written insight into elite identity in eastern Anatolia. Classical discoveries ranged from a Hermes head at Laodikeia to a unique Roman thermal complex at Myra, alongside striking evidence of early medicine from prehistoric cranial surgery to Roman pharmaceutical practice. Medieval and later periods rounded out the month with exceptional finds at Hasankeyf, early Turkish graves in Europe, and renewed focus on conserving Turkey's vast architectural and cultural heritage.

Sitti Şah – The Forgotten Bride of Edirne

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 01/20/2026 - 15:50

The vast meadows along the banks of the Tunca River shimmered in the summer light, stretching like a green sea beneath the walls of Edirne. It was here, most likely, that one of the grandest royal celebrations of the 15th century took place: the wedding of young Prince Mehmed, the future Mehmed the Conqueror, and Sitti Şah, daughter of Süleyman Bey, the sixth ruler of the Dulkadir principality. Chronicler Aşıkpaşazade left behind a detailed account of the preparations and festivities, describing an event as monumental as the destiny of the groom himself.

Prison of Anemas

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 01/13/2026 - 08:45

The Prison of Anemas, a brooding and formidable structure of stone, lies nestled within the ancient walls of Constantinople — modern-day Istanbul — standing as a grim testament to the intrigues, betrayals, and power struggles that plagued the waning centuries of the Byzantine Empire. Adjacent to the grand Blachernae Palace, the imperial residence in the empire’s later years, the prison was more than just a holding place for criminals — it was a symbol of imperial wrath and political downfall.

Rahime Perestu Sultan — The Swallow Who Became the Last Valide Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 01/08/2026 - 10:36

In the quiet currents of the Ottoman palace, where power often arrived dressed in ambition and departed wrapped in intrigue, Rahime Perestu Sultan moved differently. Her story is not one of thunderous authority or political conquest, but of grace, restraint, and a rare kind of maternal sovereignty that arrived without blood ties and endured without spectacle.

Archaeology in Turkey - 2025 in review

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 01/01/2026 - 11:07

The year 2025 proved to be a particularly vibrant and rewarding chapter for archaeology in Turkey, as excavations across the country brought an extraordinary range of discoveries into the light. From prehistoric ritual landscapes to long-forgotten cities, newly uncovered artefacts and structures not only captured public imagination but also reshaped scholarly debates about Anatolia's deep past.

For the Turkish Archaeological News team, 2025 proved to be an exceptionally active and rewarding year, marked by the publication of four new guidebooks, two field expeditions to Turkey, and a wealth of newly authored articles for the TAN portal. An overview of these milestones and activities is presented below.

What follows is a curated overview of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs announced during this remarkable year, accompanied by highlights of the new research and publications featured on the Turkish Archaeological News portal, which has closely followed and documented these developments as they unfolded.