February 2023 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 03/01/2023 - 13:11

In February 2023, all other news from Turkey was overshadowed by the tragic earthquakes that shook southern and central parts of the country, as well as northern and western Syria. As we write, more than 51 thousand deaths have been confirmed, including more than 44 thousand people who perished in Turkey. The terrible loss of life, and the devastation that affected around 14 million people, was accompanied by widespread damage in the area. Below, you will find the links to many articles dealing with the damage to Turkey's historical heritage, including the historical sites and buildings, and archaeological sites, such as Arslantepe, Hatay Archaeology Museum, and Gaziantep Castle.

Malatya's New Mosque (Yeni Cami) - before it was almost completely destroyed by the 2023 earthquake

Ephesus finds in the British Museum

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 02/19/2023 - 14:06

This text is an adaptation of a fragment of our guidebook to Ephesus: "The Secrets of Ephesus".

The archaeological finds from Ephesus can be seen in different locations around the world. We have already shown you the Ephesian artefacts on display in the Ephesos Museum in Vienna. However, the earliest findings, excavated between 1867 and 1905, were taken to the British Museum in London. The person responsible for the British involvement in Ephesus was John Turtle Wood, who went to this area of the Ottoman Empire to design railway stations for Smyrna-Aydın railway. Before we show you the treasures from Ephesus in the British Museum collections, let us take a closer look at the history of the earliest archaeological research of this ancient city.

Tall stories upon a shallow shore

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 02/09/2023 - 18:16

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

As one can imagine, I do have somewhat of a luxury in that the subject matter of my columns, the ancient past, generally affords me to escape the rigours of reporting current news. Well, almost. Sometimes a snippet of current news does occasionally leap the divide of the millennia.

Gate of Mazeus and Mithridates in Ephesus

January 2023 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 17:10

Let's take a brief look at the archaeology news from January 2023 (for the full information, please read the full text below). Firstly, last month an exciting new project was announced, promising to provide the text of almost 2000 Hittite tablets, deciphered using artificial intelligence. Secondly, great news from Iznik (ancient Nicaea) where a new Archaeological Museum is getting ready to open. In the same town, Byzantine artefacts were found under an orchard by an unsuspecting farmer. Finally, as part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, an exhibition, displaying Ottoman and Republican-era objects, was opened at the Presidential National Library in Ankara.

Ancient fortification walls of Nicaea (modern-day Iznik)

Plucking from the garden of history

Submitted by Iza on Thu, 02/02/2023 - 16:57

Text and photos by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

Following on from my previous article (Apollo on my mind), I believe that it may be necessary, even prudent, to qualify some of the evidence which I proffered therein.

Most notably the abject attitude of some local people towards this incredibly rich vein of historical artefacts which are seemingly endless in their historical scope, the innumerable disparate peoples and cultures, the endless number of belief systems which were active over so many millennia and the sheer diversity within this landmass which once was, without doubt, the ‘crossroads of the earth’.