A return to the past

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 08/23/2023 - 17:58

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

It was a delightful and refreshing sight to return to the comparative idyllic bliss of a contemplative veil of silence descending upon the environment of the ancient stones of Didyma. For in recent weeks, it feels like months, we have had extended festivals usurping the immediate area encircling the Temple precinct and parked cars choking the road arteries leading into the area.

I have no doubts, noticing the congregated hordes, the popularity of the Vegan and Jewellery Festivals. But is this a truly sensible venue for such an event(s)? Now the cacophony of the festival attendees have slunk away, no doubt to the many Blue Flag beaches which fortuitously capture the indolent hordes, we can return to that semblance of contemplation to once more consider the Temple and the entire archaeological site. It is, indeed, a pleasure to be returned into that graceful silence once again.

Naïve eloquence

Submitted by Iza on Wed, 08/16/2023 - 08:04

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia. All photos by Voices Newspaper, reprinted with their permission.

It may not be particularly prudent to mention the glaringly obvious, but Türkiye’s economic woes continue to mount to the point of being seismic. This certainly is not my sphere of understanding, and I shall leave discussion to those better to do so. Though the ramifications do intrude upon my little corner of interest, namely the protection of our shared human past.

As in all economic meltdowns, certain areas are identified as being surplus to immediate requirement. Corners are abrasively cut to less than desirable levels. I feel, in my field, that this is indicative of the gradual shift away from academic enquiry and a move towards financial opportunists.

The mayhem of festival day surrounding the Temple of Apollo

July 2023 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 08/13/2023 - 09:44

July 2023 saw the opening of a new season of archaeological excavations begin in ancient Aizanoi and Bathonea, located in the Küçükçekmece Lake basin in Istanbul's Avcılar district. The works continued in the ancient city of Comana Pontica in northern Tokat province, providing insights into the gastronomic heritage of the region. Moreover, the 8,000-year-old numeral stone, which is thought to have been used while calculating, was found during the Yeşilova Höyük excavations carried out in the Bornova district of Izmir.

Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for July 2023. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!

June 2023 in Turkish archaeology

Submitted by Iza on Sat, 07/01/2023 - 12:23

The most important archaeological discoveries announced in June 2023 from the area of Turkey included a Pan statue from the Roman period that was recovered during excavation works carried out at Saraçhane Archaeology Park, where the Church of St. Polyeuctus is situated. In ancient Greek mythology, Pan was the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, rustic music, and companion of the nymphs. He was imagined to have the hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat, in the same manner as a faun.

Moreover, massive structures were found beneath Zerzevan Castle, which served as a Roman garrison for centuries, and was located in south-eastern Diyarbakır Province. Zerzevan Castle was built in the 4th century by the Eastern Roman Empire as a military base on the ancient trade route. It was in use until 639 with the arrival of Arab Muslims at the beginning of the Arab–Byzantine wars.

Finally, the excavation works led by a Japanese archaeologist in Turkey's central Kırıkkale Province revealed new findings indicating the suggestion that Büklükale village was the first settlement of the Cimmerians, an ancient equestrian nomadic people, in Anatolia. The Cimmerians were an ancient Eastern Iranic nomads originating in the Caspian steppe, part of whom subsequently migrated into West Asia. They did not leave any written records, and most information about them is derived from Assyrian records of the 8th to 7th centuries BCE.

Ruins of the Church of St. Polyeuctus in Istanbul

Revisiting the Repatriation theme

Submitted by Iza on Sun, 06/25/2023 - 18:53

Text by our correspondent from Didyma, Glenn Maffia.

Another idle thought crossed my mind as I cogitated upon those ‘repatriations’ which I recently dwelt upon. That of worldwide Public awareness.

It appears that the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism's modus operandi is to generate a higher influx of foreign visitors to generate much needed revenue, to do so, they have identified ancient artefacts as a means to this end. Fine, that is their job. Though, does it necessarily unfold in that way? I propose here that it intrinsically does not necessarily do so.