Ephesus, one of the most iconic cities of antiquity, renowned for its rich commercial and cultural history, has unveiled new secrets thanks to a study that connects Roman mural art with trade routes and pigment production techniques of the era. International researchers have analyzed samples of cinnabar (a bright red mineral used as a pigment) […]
Anatolia
Posted inAntiquity, Travel
Hadrian’s Granary in the Forgotten Port of Andriake
Andriake, located on the southwestern coast of Anatolia (in present-day Demre, Turkey), was the main port of ancient Myra, one of the most influential cities in the Lycian Confederation. Myra, famous for its Greek theater and rock-cut necropolises in the mountain cliffs, was also home to a prominent bishopric, with its most famous representative being […]
Posted inArchaeology
An Ancient Phrygian Inscription to the Mother of the Gods Deciphered on the Arslan Kaya Monument, Revealing Lydian Construction
In the remote highlands of Phrygia, Professor Mark Munn of Pennsylvania State University has deciphered part of the inscription on the Arslan Kaya monument, also known as the “Lion Rock.” This finding confirms the mention of Materan —an ancient name of the Mother Goddess, or the Mother of the Gods— on the monument, suggesting a […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
An Aqueduct in the Ancient Ionian City of Lebedos Reveals Advanced Pre-Roman Water Management Systems in Anatolia
A group of Turkish and Spanish scientists has revealed the results of an archaeological study in western Turkey that challenges the accepted historical dates of an aqueduct near the ancient city of Lebedos, one of the twelve Ionian cities of Anatolia. The research, recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, used uranium-thorium (U-Th) […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
The Cause of the Abandonment of Elaiussa Sebaste, One of the Main Roman Commercial Harbours in the Mediterranean, Revealed
A recent study published in the Journal of Quaternary Science has revealed the causes behind the abandonment of the ancient harbours of Elaiussa Sebaste, a coastal city that was once one of the most prosperous trading centers in the eastern Mediterranean. The study, conducted by an interdisciplinary team led by Romana Melis, employed advanced geoarchaeological […]
Posted inIron Age Archaeology
Hieroglyph meaning “city” in the Luwian language spoken in Anatolia until the 7th century B.C. deciphered
A research team led by Petra M. Goedegebuure from the University of Chicago has presented a groundbreaking study on the word used for “city” in the Luwian language, spoken in ancient Anatolia. This research, published in the academic journal Anatolian Studies, offers not only a detailed linguistic analysis of the word in question but also […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Fascinating Millefiori Glass Plaques from the 5th Century AD Found in the Ancient Lycian Port of Andriake
In the heart of Antalya province, Türkiye, lie the ancient Lycian city of Myra and its port, Andriake, where it is believed that Saint Paul and his fellow prisoners were embarked on their way to Italy. Recently, excavations by Akdeniz University at the site revealed a remarkable find: millefiori (“A Thousand Flowers”) glass plaques . […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Balıklı, The Neolithic Settlement of Semi-Subterranean Houses Accessed Through the Roof at the Dawn of Agriculture
Recent research at the Balıklı site, near major obsidian sources, has provided new and important findings about the initial processes of sedentarization on the central Anatolian plateau and the interactions between the region’s earliest Neolithic communities. Located just 14 kilometers northeast of the iconic Aşıklı Höyük site, Balıklı reveals marked differences in the organization of […]
Posted inStone Age Archaeology
Carvings at Göbekli Tepe are the World’s Oldest Calendar, Created to Commemorate the Comet Impact that Gave Rise to Civilization
Carvings on a stone pillar at the 12,000-year-old archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey may represent the world’s oldest solar calendar, created as a memorial to a devastating comet impact, according to experts. These intricate carvings, which adorn a site thought to have functioned as an ancient temple complex, suggest a sophisticated understanding of […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Persian Gold Coins Used to Pay Mercenaries Found in the Ancient Greek City of Notion
A team of researchers led by Professor Christopher Ratté from the University of Michigan has uncovered a treasure trove of Persian gold coins in the ancient Greek city of Notion, located in western Turkey. The find, consisting of a collection of gold coins known as darics, is believed to have been used to pay mercenary […]
