Why Were These Teenagers Chosen as Human Sacrifices at an Ancient Mesopotamian Cemetery?
Researchers previously assumed that some of the graves at the site were royal burials. A new study presents a different theory, which challenges existing ideas about early class structures
Who Drank Wine in Ancient Troy? New Research Suggests Just About Everyone
Chemical analyses revealed wine residue on both expensive goblets and common cups unearthed among the legendary city’s ruins
Archaeologists Discover Mosaics of Two Fighting Cupids and a Mysterious Inscription at an Ancient Greek City Hall
New research is shedding light on the bouleuterion building that once stood in the ancient city of Teos, located in present-day Turkey
A New Study Finds That Domestic Cats Traveled the Silk Road to China About 1,400 Years Ago
The animals were likely gifted to some elites, then spread throughout the region
Ancient Tomb Decorated With Stunning Reliefs and a Mysterious Inscription Discovered Beneath a Courtyard in Turkey
Found in the province of Şanlıurfa, the rock tomb features depictions of a reclining man and two winged women alongside an illegible inscription
A Looted Bronze Statue That May Depict Marcus Aurelius Is Returning to Turkey
The repatriation comes after years of legal disputes over the true identity and provenance of the 6-foot-4 artwork, which has been housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art
This 1,600-Year-Old Filter Helped Ancient Drinkers Sip Beverages Through a Straw
Archaeologists discovered an unusual bronze artifact studded with holes while excavating the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Türkiye
Ten Isolated, Gravity-Defying Monasteries You Can Visit Around the World
Monks have been seeking spiritual enlightenment at these sites on steep cliffs, inside caves and atop an extinct volcano for centuries
Archaeologists Discover Ancient Tokens That Roman Soldiers Used to Play Strategy Games
The lentil-shaped objects were unearthed in Hadrianopolis, an ancient city in modern-day Turkey, that once hosted a Roman fortress
An Ancient Statue of a Roman Emperor Will Finally Be Reunited With Its Head
The torso of the bronze sculpture depicting Septimius Severus was repatriated last year, and a Copenhagen museum has now agreed to return the head
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Brighten Your Day With These 15 Photos of Beautiful Balloons From Around the World
Lift your spirits with these airy images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Rare 1,600-Year-Old Pendant Discovered in Turkey Depicts King Solomon Defeating the Devil
The fifth-century artifact was found in the ruins of a structure that may have been connected to the military. Historians think it was used as a protective amulet
Archaeologists Discover Engraved Gold Offering to Jupiter Dolichenu, a War God Revered by Roman Soldiers
The votive plaque was found amid the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress. Researchers think a temple dedicated to the mysterious deity may have stood nearby
Boston Museum Returns Looted 2,700-Year-Old Necklace to Turkey
The gold and carnelian artifact is nearly identical to other jewelry found at an archaeological site in western Turkey
Nine Mythical Places Archaeologists Think May Have Actually Existed
Historical evidence is helping to pinpoint the exact locations of fabled sites, from King Arthur’s castle to Solomon’s Temple
Could These Carvings in Turkey Be the World’s Oldest Lunisolar Calendar?
One researcher thinks the V-shaped markings engraved into a pillar thousands of years ago may represent the days of the year
Researchers Decipher Cuneiform Tablet—and Discover It’s a Furniture Receipt
The small clay rectangle is engraved with an ancient Semitic language known as Akkadian
From Cisterns to Temples, These Twelve Underground Worlds Are Open for Exploring
Some of these age-old subterranean spaces have even been transformed into amusement parks, art galleries and restaurants
Hike Through Ancient Roman and Biblical History in Turkey’s Rugged Mountains
In southern Turkey, an extensive new trail network spirits trekkers to Pisidia, home to many lost treasures and a true crossroads of civilizations
Hagia Sophia Introduces Entry Fee for Foreign Tourists
Worshippers will be able to use a separate entrance to gain free access to the 1,500-year-old landmark in Istanbul
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