July 2024 brought some sensational archaeological discoveries in the area of Turkey. Among the most fascinating ones, the Hittite royal seal warning ‘Whoever Breaks This Will Die’ was found during the excavations in Kırıkkale. Meanwhile, the archaeologists unearthed the Koressos gate, one of the three main entrances to the ancient city of Ephesus, while the underwater studies in Parion, a 2,700-year-old port city in Kemer village of Biga district of Çanakkale, revealed the second ancient port of the city. Finally, a recently published study suggests that a woman buried in the upper reaches of the Tigris River in south-eastern Türkiye around 12,000 years ago may have been a shaman believed to have had a spiritual connection with wild animals.

The beginning of June 2024 brought the sad news of the passing of Sabine Ladstätter, the former head of the excavations of Ephesus. Meanwhile, the works in Ephesus continue, now headed by Martin Steskal, who has recently announced that this year's works are focussed on the Coressian Gate, one of the important city gates, and on the west side of the Serapis Temple. Moreover, the ancient city of Ephesus hosted some 130,000 people, becoming the most visited museum in Türkiye during the nine-day Eid holiday. After the initiation of the night museum project, Ephesus also welcomes its visitors during the night hours thanks to its lighting system.