All posts by Archaeology World Team

ASIA, TURKEY, WORLD

Discovery Shedding Light on Ancient Maritime Trade: 1,500-Year-Old Trade Shipwreck Found off Türkiye’s Ayvalık

Discovery Shedding Light on Ancient Maritime Trade: 1,500-Year-Old Trade Shipwreck Found off Türkiye’s Ayvalık

Discovery Shedding Light on Ancient Maritime Trade: 1,500-Year-Old Trade Shipwreck Found off Türkiye’s Ayvalık

‘Turkish Sunken-Ships Project: Blue Heritage’, a 1500-year-old trade shipwreck was found off the coast of  Ayvalık district of Balıkesir.

Under the direction of associate professor Harun Özdaş, director of the Underwater Research Center (SUDEMER) at Dokuz Eylül University, the mapping of the underwater cultural heritage of the Ayvalık region was carried out with approval from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The research was carried out using domestically developed robotic underwater vehicles.

The shipwreck, located approximately 2.5 miles off the coast of Ayvalık, was identified by associate professor Nilhan Kızıldağ, the deputy director of SUDEMER, and her team. The wreck is dated to the late fifth century A.D. based on preliminary findings.

It was stated that the wreck containing approximately 10 thousand ceramic dishwrecks is ‘the largest plate wreck found in the Aegean and Mediterranean’.

It was stated that the find, which shows the plate trade on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, due to its location in open waters, the wreck has been exceptionally well-preserved.

Özdaş explained that they detected some anomalies at a depth of 43 meters and gave the following information:

‘We made dives to these anomalies with our high-tech devices and determined the location of the wreck. This discovery was made thanks to our advanced robotic systems because it is about 2.5 miles off the coast at a depth of 43 meters.

We encountered a large pile in an area outside of geography that can be found with standard dives.

The characteristic of this pile is that it consists of intertwined dishes, each in clusters of about 15-20, not the amphorae we usually detect in our studies. To date, we have found the largest shipwreck of dishes known in the Aegean and Mediterranean. Based on the first determinations, we think that the ship came from North Africa or Cyprus. It probably sank off the coast of Ayvalık after a storm.’

The wreck is estimated to be about 15 meters (49.21 feet) long and 9 meters wide, with only a small number of amphorae found alongside the dishes.

The team believes the ship may have originated from either North Africa or the island of Cyprus, with the wreck possibly resulting from a storm.

Additionally, Özdaş pointed out that ceramics made in places like Syria, Egypt, North Africa, and Cyprus were frequently traded and shipped to Anatolia, Greece, or Italy. But as of yet, there hasn’t been any convincing underwater proof of these kinds of trade activities. With almost 10,000 plates in its cargo, the discovery of this shipwreck is unprecedented in both scope and importance.

“There are at least 5-6 different types of plates among the cargo,” said Özdaş. “In our 30 years of underwater research in Turkish waters, finding such wealth is a source of great happiness for us. The ship’s main cargo was ceramic plates and photogrammetric studies show that there are 10,000 plates on the site.

This wreck is of great importance, especially because it has remained untouched and preserved in its original state. The variety and quantity of artifacts here represent a significant collection.”

According to Özdaş, the discovery is substantial enough to warrant the creation of a museum based on the artifacts uncovered. “We have found enough artifacts to open a museum,” he said.

EUROPE, NORWAY, WORLD

Archaeologists Uncovered Rich Viking Women’s Graves in Norway

Archaeologists Uncovered Rich Viking Women’s Graves in Norway

Archaeologists Uncovered Rich Viking Women’s Graves in Norway

Archaeologists have discovered a wealth of Viking Age history on a treasure trove at Skumsnes farm in Fitjar, Norway’s west coast. Three graves of high-status women from the early ninth century have been discovered during excavations. There may be as many as 20 graves at the site.

These graves, in contrast to many other locations, were lavishly decorated, indicating a community of significant wealth and significance. The discoveries, which include valuable jewelry, rare coins, and textile-making implements, offer a singular window into the social organization, commercial relationships, and cultural customs of the time.

“Many of the buried individuals were adorned with fine jewelry. It is remarkable to find a burial ground with such well-preserved artifacts,” says archaeologist Søren Diinhoff from the University Museum of Bergen.

Diinhoff describes the discovery as “a small treasure trove” for researchers.

Three women from a large farm in Skumsnes

The graves belonged to three women who lived in the first half of the ninth century, during the early Viking Age. Skumsnes had a sizable farm at the time. It most likely belonged to a western Norwegian king, either local or regional.

The farm’s location along the coast probably made it attractive to travelers in need of a safe harbor.

“On behalf of the king, shelter was provided to passing ships, which likely generated additional income,” says Diinhoff. This explains why the graves are richer than those more commonly found.

The graves unearthed this autumn of three women, each with distinctive burial practices:

Grave in the Rock Crevice: Her grave was covered in stones, and she was buried in a naturally occurring rock formation. Her jewelry, which reflected ties outside of Norway, included oval brooches and other pieces that probably came from England or Ireland.

Hedeby coins are a rare discovery. Archaeologist Søren Diinhoff describes this coin as the most remarkable find from the women’s graves at Skumsnes.

The Boat Grave: The most ornate burial was for a high-ranking woman. The four-meter-long boat in which she was buried had stones arranged to resemble a ship. Eleven silver coins, including one from Hedeby and some Carolingian, 46 glass beads, and textile-making implements like a weaving sword and a spindle whorl were among her grave goods. Additionally discovered was a bronze key that represented her position as the head of the household. There were no human remains found, which raised the possibility that this grave was a cenotaph.

There was also a stone in the middle of the boat grave marking the mast of the boat. When the archaeologists turned it over, they saw that it resembled a ‘vulva stone’ – the stone looked like female genitalia.

Archaeologists believe it is no coincidence that the stone looks like a woman. The stone was probably placed there to symbolize a woman who was not buried in the tomb. This theory provides a potential explanation for why the items in question were not discovered on a skeleton.

Mosaic glass beads and other beads from all over the world were sold in Viking Age towns such as Birka, Hedeby, Ribe, and Kaupang.

The discovery of a Hedeby coin in this tomb is one of the most remarkable findings. This coin, which was struck in early 9th-century southern Denmark, highlights the Viking Age’s vast trading networks. Additional coins from the Carolingian Empire found in the boat grave point to ties to the Frankish continent.

The 46-bead necklace emphasizes even more how international the Viking Age trade was. In towns like Birka, Hedeby, Ribe, and Kaupang, mosaic glass beads from as far away as the Middle East and Europe were popular, highlighting the Viking world’s interconnectedness.

“Both of these women had contacts outside Norway. It’s probably no coincidence. Perhaps they came from abroad and married into the local community,” Diinhoff speculates.

A key often signifies someone in a position of management, someone with possessions worth locking away, which reflects status and wealth.

Fabric production was important in Viking society, as evidenced by the textile tools found in the boat grave. The inclusion of a weaving sword, a hetchel, and wool shears represents not only domestic responsibilities but also the financial influence that women have when running extensive textile businesses. A valuable commodity during the Viking Age, fine textiles—especially sails—were frequently associated with wealth and prestige.

The Unfinished Grave: The third burial has not been fully excavated but yielded beads and fragments of silver jewelry, hinting at its wealth.

Archaeologists have also identified two additional graves and believe there could be as many as 20 graves in the area. Metal detectors have picked up signals in multiple spots.

Trefoil brooches were a popular accessory during the Viking Age. The one discovered in the graves at Skumsnes was originally a Carolingian sword belt fitting, repurposed into jewelry.

These graves highlight the important roles that women played in Viking Age society, not only as heads of the home but also as key players in production, trade, and community leadership.

EUROPE, FRANCE, WORLD

1,800-Year-Old Gold Ring with ‘Venus the Victorious’ Carving and Carolingian Coins Discovered in France

1,800-Year-Old Gold Ring with ‘Venus the Victorious’ Carving and Carolingian Coins Discovered in France

1,800-Year-Old Gold Ring with ‘Venus the Victorious’ Carving and Carolingian Coins Discovered in France

Archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) have discovered a 1,800-year-old gold ring with a chiseled portrait of Venus the Victorious, a Roman goddess associated with victory in battle, and a handful of coins from a much later period when the Carolingian Empire ruled the region in the town of Pacé (Brittany, France).

The discovery was part of an extensive excavation that uncovered artifacts and settlements spanning the Late Bronze Age to the medieval period.

The ring was found in an “exceptional state of preservation” near the town of Pacé, in Brittany, according to a translated statement from the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).

The Roman gold ring, dated between the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE was discovered along a stretch of a Roman-origin road, studied as part of the excavation.

Constructed between the second and fourth centuries CE, this communication route is notable for its structure, which is a layer of quartz gravel covering the natural ground with lateral ditches lining its course. Its extensive use in antiquity is attested to by visible wheel ruts.

The gold ring features a finely chiseled mount and an intaglio crafted from Nicolo, a type of onyx with a bluish surface over a black base.

The gemstone features a finely carved representation of Venus Victrix, symbolizing beauty and strength. Such jewelry often served as both personal adornments and seals for Roman elites, signifying status and carrying spiritual significance.

Carolingian coins discovered at the site.

In addition to facilitating trade and travel, Roman infrastructure, such as the road where the ring was located, linked rural communities with urban centers.

Archaeologists discovered the remains of a medieval hamlet from the fifth to the tenth centuries next to the Roman road. With its quadrangular plots connected by pathways, this settlement featured homes, pastures, agricultural land, and grain storage silos.

The use of wood, earth, and plant-based roofing materials in many of the structures provides information about medieval construction methods.

One particularly remarkable discovery was a cache of twelve Carolingian silver coins from the ninth or tenth century.

These coins, discovered in a remarkable condition of preservation, may have been deposited during the Viking Age, when Viking raids were putting pressure on the Carolingian Empire. Whether Viking activity was the direct cause of the settlement’s abandonment by the tenth century is still unknown.

Evidence of earlier periods of occupation was also found at the site. Pottery fragments from the Late Bronze Age and terracotta molds used to make bronze were found in pits in the northern sector.

These molds, which were probably used to make swords and other weapons, suggest an unidentified workshop. Two tiny enclosures, one of which may have been an Early Iron Age funerary circle, were discovered in another location.

From a Bronze Age settlement to a medieval hamlet and, by the Late Middle Ages, to an area centered on agriculture, this excavation has yielded important insights into the patterns of settlement, agricultural practices, and technological developments over millennia.

EUROPE, TURKEY, WORLD

2-Meter-Long Stone Block Found at 12,000-Year-Old Boncuklu Tarla Site in Southeastern Türkiye

2-Meter-Long Stone Block Found at 12,000-Year-Old Boncuklu Tarla Site in Southeastern Türkiye

2-Meter-Long Stone Block Found at 12,000-Year-Old Boncuklu Tarla Site in Southeastern Türkiye

A remarkable 2-meter by 20-centimeter processed stone block was discovered during the archaeological excavations at Boncuklu Tarla (Beaded Field), which illuminates the history of humanity with its 12,000-year past in the Ilısu neighborhood of the Dargeçit district of Mardin.

The region, which has hosted 25 civilizations throughout history, including Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians, Urartians, Romans, Abbasids, Seljuks, and Ottomans, continues to reveal ancient human life.

Archaeological excavations in Boncuklu Tarla, initiated in 2012 by the Mardin Museum Directorate have been continuing and led by Associate Professor Ergül Kodaş, a faculty member in the Department of Archaeology at Mardin Artuklu University.

In Boncuklu Tarla, which has an area of approximately 2.5 hectares and was included in the ‘Heritage for the Future Project’ of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism this year, many finds belonging to the period from the Late Epipaleolithic period to the Neolithic Age have been unearthed so far.

The excavations finally uncovered the remains of a ‘public building’, which is estimated to be about 12 thousand years old.

Boncuklu Tarla.

This roughly 10-meter-diameter structure looks to have been in continuous use for a number of phases. It is noteworthy that the building underwent at least four renovations, each of which involved filling in the floor. This finding casts doubt on previous theories that the buildings at Boncuklu Tarla were occupied only once before being abandoned.

In the remains of the structure, a stele (worked stone block) measuring 2 metres 20 centimetres in length and many find such as miniature steles, beads, arrowheads, and bull horns were unearthed.

According to Associate Professor Ergul Kodas, the excavation leader from Mardin Artuklu University, this large stele is a groundbreaking find for the site and the Upper Tigris Valley. “For the first time, such a large stele has been discovered both at Boncuklu Tarla and in the Upper Tigris Valley,” said Kodas.

In the remains of the structure, a stele (worked stone block) measuring 2 meters 20 centimeters in length were unearthed. 

The stele is especially noteworthy because it bears similarities to those in the Sanliurfa region, indicating a historical relationship between these two regions.

Moreover, a miniature replica of the stele was found inside the structure, offering more information about the connections between the areas at this time.

An invaluable window into the lives of ancient societies in the Upper Tigris Valley is offered by the discoveries made at Boncuklu Tarla.

Continued excavations hold the potential to deepen our knowledge of early human civilization in Turkey by illuminating the lengthy history of the area’s architectural and cultural development.

AFRICA, EGYPT, WORLD

Golden Tongues and Nails discovered on mummies from the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt

Golden Tongues and Nails discovered on mummies from the Ptolemaic Period in Egypt

Archaeologists have uncovered tombs decorated with colorful inscriptions and ritual scenes, as well as unusual mummies and unique funerary objects, including 13 striking golden tongues and nails, at the Al-Bahnasa archaeological site in Egypt’s Minya governorate.

The Oxyrhynchus Archaeological Mission, led by the Institute of Ancient Near East Studies of the University of Barcelona (IPOA), under the direction of Ignasi-Xavier Adiego, has concluded its latest campaign with unique remains, which allow us to deepen our knowledge of funerary practices, religious life and monastic activity in Ancient Egypt.

Among the notable firsts, these are the first human remains and the first texts and ritual scenes of goddesses of their kind in the Al-Bahansa region. These artifacts, along with elaborate burial customs, provide valuable insights into Ptolemaic religious beliefs.

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the findings as “a major addition to the history of the region,” emphasizing their uniqueness to the Al-Bahnasa area.

Excavations at the discovery site.

Among the most remarkable discoveries are 52 Ptolemaic period mummies, 13 of which had golden tongues in their mouths, symbolizing preparation for the afterlife. One mummy had two golden tongues, and another’s fingernails were adorned with a gold plate.

Recovered from the same location were valuable items like a terracotta of the god Harpocrates, amulets featuring Egyptian deities like Thoth, Isis, and Horus, and a heart scarab in its original position.

Excavations also revealed the structure of a Ptolemaic-era tomb containing some 300 mummies. This tomb, with three burial chambers and a vaulted ceiling, is remarkable for its walls decorated with texts and polychrome scenes depicting funerary rituals and divine figures such as Anubis, Osiris, Atum, and Nut.

Some of these amulets combined the symbolism of multiple deities, an unusual finding in the region. In addition, four limestone sarcophagi have been discovered in the same context.

Dr. Esther Pons Mellado, the Spanish mission leader, explained that one of the discovered tombs includes a rectangular well leading to a main room with three funerary chambers.

One of the panels with decoration found, the boat of Ra.

According to Dr. Esther Pons Mellado, the Spanish mission leader, these chambers contained dozens of mummies, arranged meticulously, suggesting communal burial practices.

Another burial shaft led to similarly decorated chambers, one of which belonged to an individual identified as “Wen Nefer.” On one of its walls, the tomb owner is depicted with his family offering offerings to deities such as Anubis, Osiris, Atum, and Horus.

The ceiling is decorated with the goddess Nut, surrounded by stars and sacred boats carrying deities like Khepri, Ra, and Atum, against a bright blue background.

Set of amulets and gold scarabs.

The presence of a thin layer of gold on the face of a mummy, depicted as if embalmed by the god Anubis, demonstrates the delicate nature of the funerary work. Figures of the goddesses Isis and Nephthys have the same golden finish. The tomb also housed four limestone sarcophagi.

The mission also noted that earlier excavations had already found a Byzantine basilica, a temple devoted to Osiris, and tombs from the Saite, Greco-Roman, and Roman periods.

BULGARIA, EUROPE, WORLD

Statue Head of Goddess Tyche Discovered in Bulgaria

Statue Head of Goddess Tyche Discovered in Bulgaria

A remarkably crafted head of a large  statue of the Greek goddess Tyche was recently unearthed during the excavations of the  Bishop’s Basilica in Plovdiv, the present-day city situated where the ancient Philippopolis.

Archaeologist Lyubomir Merdzhanov, who led the excavation team, is hailing this stunning artifact as a “phenomenal find”.

Plovdiv is not only one of the most ancient cities on the territory of Bulgaria but also in Europe. The name of the ancient Thracian city from which Plovdiv today is derived was most likely Eumolpia.

The Iron Age saw the development of the fortified Thracian city on the Nebet Tepe territory. Philip II incorporated it into the Macedonian Empire in the fourth century BC and gave it the most well-known name, Philippopolis.

Tyche was considered the Goddess of Success, fortune, luck, and prosperity. Greeks believed that she had the power to determine the fortune of people and cities

The intricately crafted head dates from the late 1st to the mid-3rd century AD. The head (and presumably, the whole statue) was made according to Hellenistic tradition, of high-quality marble, with the irises shaped like hearts.

Tyche’s function as the guardian of Philippopolis is symbolized by the corona muralis, or mural crown, which is used to depict city walls with turrets. Based on the head’s proportions, the artifact is thought to have been a part of a statue that was about 2.5 meters tall.

According to archaeologists, the statue might have been part of a sanctuary that existed before the Christian basilica.

The fact that churches were frequently erected over pagan temples by early Christian communities raises the possibility that the location contains more historically significant artifacts.

The discovery is therefore important not only for its artistic value but also for the insight it provides into the religious and cultural history of ancient Philippopolis.

The head of Greek goddess Tyche statue was found near the basilica’s pulpit. The head may have been reused as building material or strategically placed for symbolic purposes.

 “The position of the artifact could carry deeper meaning, possibly indicating the coexistence of pagan and Christian traditions,” Merdzhanov explained.

The artifact is expected to be displayed at the Plovdiv Archaeological Museum after thorough study and restoration.

The excavation team hopes to obtain permission to lift the basilica’s mosaics to investigate the underlying sanctuary and potentially locate the remaining statue fragments, with the goal of reconstructing this ancient wonder.

EUROPE, NETHERLANDS, WORLD

A 2,000-year-old Roman grave belonging to soldier Flaccus unearthed in Netherlands

A 2,000-year-old Roman grave belonging to soldier Flaccus unearthed in Netherlands

Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,000-year-old grave from the Roman settlement in  Heerlen, Netherlands. The latest analysis has shown that it belonged to a Roman soldier named ‘Flaccus’.

The discovery is being touted as the “most unique evidence of Roman habitation at this location,” as this is the first time a Roman grave has been found from 0 AD with a name pointing to its occupant.

The discovery, which was discovered during ongoing excavations at the Raadhuisplein (Town Hall Square), provides fresh information about Heerlen’s past as Coriovallum, a Roman settlement that was ideally situated at the intersection of important Roman roads.

During a renovation project at the Raadhuisplein in late November 2024, archaeologists from ADC ArcheoProjecten discovered the grave. Because of its rectangular shape and discolored soil, the pit was first thought to be a cellar pit. However, the discovery of cremation remains clarified the pit’s function.

The grave also contained a fragment of a La Tène bracelet, pottery, shards, and three complete Roman plates of Terra Sigillata, according to a statement released by the municipality. One of these plates bore the abbreviation “FLAC,” a nickname for Flaccus, carved into its surface.

Artifacts, including the personalized bowl, discovered at the site. Source: Municipality of Heerlen.

Experts deduced the name ‘Flaccus’ from the abbreviation FLAC, which was carved into a bowl discovered in the grave, as per the media statement. “In addition to the bowl, the researchers also found a bronze skin scraper and four different plates.

The pottery, which comes from Italy, confirms that Flaccus was a Roman soldier. It is a unique find because it is not only the oldest Roman grave in Heerlen but also because no name was known there before,” the statement noted.

The Raadhuisplein, located near the historical roads Via Belgica and Via Traiana, was an important location in the middle of the Roman settlement Coriovallum, the Heerlen of that time.

The square is a unique place where 2000 years of history come together and the complete story of Heerlen is revealed bit by bit.

 These special discoveries contribute to a deeper understanding of Heerlen’s rich past and its Roman origins.

EUROPE, TURKEY, WORLD

4,400-Year-Old Jade Cylinder Seal Found in Western Türkiye

4,400-Year-Old Jade Cylinder Seal Found in Western Türkiye

A cylindrical seal made of  jade stone dating back to 4,400 years ago was found in Kütahya Seyitömer Höyük (Seyitömer Mound), an Early Bronze Age – Middle Bronze Age settlement located in the western Anatolia region of Türkiye.

The archaeological site of Seyitömer Höyük is located within the Kütahya region of western Türkiye, 350 kilometers south of Istanbul, at an important juncture between the Mesopotamian and Mediterranean worlds.

The ongoing archaeological work at Seyitomer Hoyuk, located within a thermal power plant area, began 35 years ago. It is currently being conducted under Dr. Sevgi Gurdal, head archaeologist at Kutahya Museum, with sponsorship from Celikler Holding.

Since May this year, 25 specialized personnel and a group of 50 workers have been working in the area where finds related to ceramic production, especially the Early Bronze Age covering the years 3000-2000 BC, have been unearthed.

Dr. Gürdal told the AA correspondent that they are working in the Middle Bronze Age and Early Bronze Age layers at the mound.

Stating that one of the most important finds of the 2024 excavation season at the mound was a 4,400-year-old cylinder seal found in the layer dating to the Early Bronze Age II period, Gürdal said, ‘Cylinder seals first appeared in Mesopotamia in the mid-4th millennium. Later, they spread both to Anatolia and to different parts of the world through commercial routes.’

“This cylindrical seal is particularly significant as it is the oldest of its kind found in Inner Western Anatolia,” Gurdal said.

Gürdal stated that only two cylinder seals from the same period, one made of baked clay and the other made of blue feldspar stone, were found in the ancient city of Troy in Çanakkale last summer in Western Anatolia.

Detailed analysis revealed that the seal is made of  jade, a material rare in Türkiye. Although the jade found in Türkiye is normally purple, it is rarely found in green color, Harmancik, a region between Bursa and Kutahya.

Explaining that the seal shows that there is international trade and cultural interaction in the region, Gürdal said, ” It is an extremely important find in terms of showing that it was made under the influence of different external cultures and that it was produced with a type of stone in the region.’

The seal, discovered within a wall of an architectural structure, features a circular perforation and a decorated surface with a cage motif enclosed by circular borders.