Finds from Aslantepe in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 01/16/2024 - 11:31

Aslantepe Tumulus, also sometimes spelled as Arslantepe, is a 5,000 year-old tumulus located in Malatya Province in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. It is identified with the ancient city called Melid. It dates back to Chalcolithic period and late Hittite period. THe excavations started in 1932, and are still carried out by the teams of Italian archaeologists. Aslantepe became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021.

The unearthed king's palace is an open-air museum. Some of the artifacts, including the first swords known in the Early Bronze Age, are exhibited in Malatya Museum while others - in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.

Amasya Museum

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 01/08/2024 - 08:34

The museum in Amasya, located on the southern side of the city, less picturesque than the northern one, occupies an unremarkable concrete building, painted pink for greater effect. However, do not be discouraged by the first impression, because the museum has many interesting exhibits in its showcases, the most shocking of which are probably the real mummies.

Ethnographic exhibition in Amasya Museum

Asclepieion of Pergamon

Submitted by Iza on Tue, 01/02/2024 - 18:50

In ancient times, the name Asclepieion was used to refer to the temple of the god of medicine, Asclepius. Initially, it was just a source of water located in a sacred grove, but over time, the Asclepieia expanded, temple buildings were erected, and hospitals and therapeutic centres were constructed nearby. The Asclepieion in Pergamon was one of the most important facilities of this kind, placed on a par with the Asclepieion in Epidaurus and the one on the island of Kos.

Asclepieion of Pergamon - general view from the theatre

Archaeology in Turkey - 2023 in review

Submitted by Iza on Mon, 01/01/2024 - 13:01

The year 2023 was a mixed one for the Turkish archaeology. On one hand, the beginning of the year was marked by a disastrous earthquake that hit the southeastern part of the country, causing the great losses, including the damage to numerous archaeological sites and museums. On the other hand, in September 2023, UNESCO announced of the entry on the World Heritage List of two new items from Turkey, including the famous site of ancient Gordion. The other entry were the Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia.

December 2023 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 12/31/2023 - 10:22

In December 2023, some significant archaeological discoveries were announced for the area of Turkey. In the southeastern region, a rare 800-year-old bronze talismanic healing bowl was discovered in Hasankeyf excavations. In the Aegean region, a workshop dating back 8,200 years, showing the village life, pleasure, eating and drinking culture of the people of İzmir, was unearthed in Yeşilova Mound. Finally, in the Black Sea region, during ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Prusias ad Hypium, archaeologists uncovered a beautiful mosaic featuring a duo of lions.