Turkey unearths ancient treasures, igniting archaeological fervour
The year 2024 has been deemed the golden era of archaeology. Turkey's groundbreaking discoveries have recently generated significant interest in archaeological circles worldwide. Excavations conducted throughout the year have unveiled evidence of life thousands of years ago.
Turkey attracts an increasing number of tourists each year and is celebrated for its impressive archaeological discoveries. Last year was no exception.
Discoveries in Turkey
The number of archaeological projects in this country in 2023 was 720 excavations. By 2024, it will increase to 765, and according to plans, by 2026, there will be as many as 800.
Among the most impressive archaeological discoveries in Turkey in 2024 are a 4,000-year-old seal found in Kütahya and a Minoan dagger made of bronze and adorned with silver rivets discovered off the coast of Antalya province.
This is what everyone was talking about
Last year, Turkey also boasted the discovery of a Hellenistic statue head representing the goddess Hygieia and a group of painted sculptures of Scylla in the province of Denizli. The statue's head was over 2,100 years old. Meanwhile, a 7,800-year-old female figurine was found during excavations at the Ulucak Höyük archaeological site in the province of Izmir. The figurine featured a hole symbolizing a mouth. Archaeologists believe it represents a woman who shared stories.
Moreover, a food storehouse was uncovered during an excavation in the ruins of Ani, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the province of Kars. It dates back to the Seljuk period (11th-12th century AD) and contains eight large conical vessels, each about 1.5 metres tall with an opening diameter of about 50 centimetres. Besides these containers, attention is also drawn to a fragment of a bowl with a peacock motif, which, in medieval mythology, symbolizes paradise.
Furthermore, one can't forget the ancient, monumental head of Zeus found in Aydın. Crafted from a single block of medium-grained marble from the Aphrodisias region, it is dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries.
