The biggest news in May 2019 was the reopening of the famous Sümela Monastery in northern Turkey, after an extensive restoration. Moreover, Uzunyuva Monumental Tomb Archaeology Park in the western province of Muğla was also opened again. The roof of the Istanbul's major landmark - the Grand Bazaar was repaired. The archaeologists started the excavations in Blaundus and the Hittite hieroglyphs were unexpectedly found in a barn in Cappadocia.
Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for May 2019. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!
May 8, 2019
Forgotten Hittite city in Anatolia
The Hittite city of Sarissa is waiting to serve tourism. Located in the central Anatolian province of Sivas’ Altınyayla district, the city dates back to 3,500-years. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Restoration nearing end on 1,400-year-old Hereke castle in western Turkey’s Kocaeli
The end is in sight for restoration works on a historic castle from the Byzantine Empire in western Turkey's Kocaeli province, the district mayor said Wednesday. Source: Daily Sabah
Ancient mosaic revealed during illegal excavation in Turkey’s Çanakkale, suspects detained
An ancient mosaic bearing geometrical patterns and ancient letters was unearthed during an illegal excavation in northwestern Turkey's Çanakkale province Wednesday. Source: Daily Sabah
May 10, 2019
Special protection for Caria Satrap
The Uzunyuva Monumental Tomb Archaeology Park in the western province of Muğla’s Milas district, home to the tomb of Caria Satrap Hecatomnus, now is now open to tourists after restoration work. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 12, 2019
Laodicea’s western theater to open soon
A theater predating many civilizations in the western province of Denizli will soon start receiving visitors after excavation and restoration works are done. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 13, 2019
World's 1st stock exchange market in Turkey should be promoted, professor says
One of the world's first stock exchange markets located in Turkey's western Kütahya province should be promoted to give it the prominence it deserves worldwide, the head of the excavation team at the Ancient City of Aizanoi said. Source: Daily Sabah
May 14, 2019
Columns excavated at Pagan center Lagina in western Turkey
Excavations are continuing to restore more than 20 ancient columns at the 3,000-year-old Lagina Sanctuary, dubbed as the center of Paganism, located in western Muğla province's Yatağan district. Source: Daily Sabah
May 15, 2019
Plunder of Troy artifacts worse than estimated: Experts
The number of artifacts unearthed in the ancient city of Troy and smuggled out of the country may be 10 times higher than previously estimated, according to a document recently found in the Ottoman archive. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
World's largest underground city to open to visit in Turkey's Cappadocia
The world's largest underground city, discovered during restoration work at Nevşehir Fortress, will soon be opened to visitors, the city's Mayor Rasim Arı has announced. Source: Daily Sabah
Second-ever marble sarcophagus found in Turkey’s Cappadocia
An ancient marble sarcophagus was found buried in the soil of a field in central Turkey's Nevşehir province, officials said Wednesday – the second ever sarcophagus to be found in the Cappadocia region. Source: Daily Sabah
Rock relief depicts farewell scene
The relief on a Roman-era rock, found in the southeastern province of Adıyaman’s Kahta district, depicts a man and a woman shaking hands. The 10-ton rock was carried to the Adıyaman Museum, director Mehmet Alkan said, adding that it is most probably depicting a ‘farewell scene’ for one of the partners who died. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Byzantine-era historical structure discovered under restaurant in northwestern Turkey’s Edirne
A historical structure believed to belong to the Byzantine era has been unearthed from beneath a restaurant in northwestern Turkey's Edirne province. The discovery was made by units from the Edirne Regional Directorate of Protection of Cultural Assets in the Zindanaltı neighborhood of Kaleiçi. Source: Daily Sabah
May 18, 2019
Millenia-old Hittite ruins found in central Turkey
Some nine layers of millennia-old Hittite ruins have been discovered in central Turkey, archaeologists at the site announced Thursday. "We have identified nine layers of construction belonging to the Hittite period," Kimiyoshi Matsumura told Anadolu Agency (AA) in Kirikkale, where the excavation site is located. Source: Daily Sabah
May 18, 2019
Iconic Blue Mosque goes through extensive restoration
The first and only six-minaret mosque of Ottoman architecture - the iconic Blue Mosque in Istanbul - is undergoing the most comprehensive restoration in its 400-year history. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 22, 2019
Hittite-era artifacts come to light in Kırıkkale
Nine layers of millennia-old ruins dating back to the ancient Hittite civilization were discovered in the central Turkish province of Kırıkkale’s Büklükale site. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Genetic studies of the inhabitants of one of the world`s oldest cities - Çatalhöyük
The social structure of the inhabitants of one of the oldest cities in the world, Çatalhöyük in Turkey, was more complex than scientists assumed. Kinship could have a secondary role in it, scientists determined on the basis of DNA tests of the deceased. Source: Science in Poland
May 23, 2019
800-year-old mosque in Turkey's Şanlıurfa ready for prayer, visitors after restoration
The symbol of Şanlıurfa's Balıklıgöl, the Döşeme Mosque, also known as Halilurrahman Mosque, is getting ready to open for prayers and visitors after four years of restoration work. Source: Daily Sabah
50-million year-old nummulite exhibited
A recently discovered 50-million-year-old nummulite, a large lens-shaped single-celled marine organism (foraminifera), was put on display at a museum in the southeastern province Diyarbakır. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Restoration of Istanbul’s historic Grand Bazaar now complete
Restoration efforts on the roof and infrastructure of the Istanbul landmark the Grand Bazaar located in Fatih district on the city's historic peninsula has been completed after nearly two years of meticulous work. Source: Daily Sabah
Patara Lighthouse waiting for conservation board’s green light to come to surface
At 24 meters in height, the Patara Lighthouse in the ancient city of Patara, located in the southern province of Antalya’s Kaş district, will be erected again once the Antalya Conservation Board gives an approval for the restoration project. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 24, 2019
Bill to protect Cappadocia ratified
Turkish parliament ratified a bill on May 23 that aims to protect Cappadocia, a touristic hub in central Turkey. With the bill approved, Cappadocia Field Authority will be established, and it will be entitled to protect the historical, cultural and natural pattern of the region famed for its picturesque rock formations in central Nevşehir province. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey's Sumela Monastery on its way to World Heritage List
The Sumela Monastery, a favorite tourist destination in the eastern Black Sea region, is now counting down the days to open its doors to visitors after four years of restoration. Source: Daily Sabah
Turkish shepherd stumbles upon 85-million-year-old sea urchin fossil in southeastern Turkey
A shepherd in southeastern Turkey's Adıyaman province accidentally and unknowingly discovered a sea urchin fossil estimated to date back to 85 million years ago, media reports said Friday. Source: Daily Sabah
May 25, 2019
3,500-year-old Neo-Hittite hieroglyphs found in barn in Turkey's Cappadocia
Archaeologists have discovered 3,500-year-old Hittite hieroglyphs inside a barn located in Turkey's historical Cappadocia region, which is expected to shed light on an ancient kingdom. Source: Daily Sabah
May 26, 2019
Historic Galatasaray University building’s restoration completed
The restoration of the 149-year-old Galatasaray University building has been completed after a fire burned down the historic establishment in 2013. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Turkish farmer finds 5,000-year-old artifacts on field
A Turkish farmer in the eastern province of Erzurum has found artifacts dating back 5,000 years while plowing his field. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 28, 2019
Hittite monument to agriculture blesses Konya basin
Registered on UNESCO's Temporary List of World Heritage Sites, the 3,000-year-old İvriz relief, which was a Hittite symbol of agricultural fertility, draws tourists from around the world. Source: Daily Sabah
3 million tourists expected at Göbeklitepe this year
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy has said he expects Göbeklitepe, an archeological site in Turkey’s southeastern Şanlıurfa province, to receive more than 3 million tourists this year, threefold of last year’s figure. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
May 29, 2019
600-year-old Christian book seized from smugglers in central Turkey
Turkish gendarmerie teams on Wednesday seized a 600-year-old Christian book written in old German from suspected smugglers in the central province of Yozgat. Source: Daily Sabah
May 30, 2019
Excavations at Roman-era city of Blaundus in western Turkey to restart
Excavation works at an ancient city founded during the time of Alexander the Great in Turkey's western Uşak province will soon restart to unearth the numerous monuments at the site, reports said Thursday. Source: Daily Sabah
May 31, 2019
Sümela Monastery popular after restoration
Sümela Monastery, which opened to visitors on May 25 following a four-year-long comprehensive restoration and rock improvement work, has welcomed 2,000 visitors in four days since the opening on May 25. Source: Hürriyet Daily News
