The site of K & uuml;ltepe served as a major hub within the Assyrian trade network during the early second millennium BCE. Its expanding commercial activities, socio-economic diversity, and cosmopolitan population necessitated a structured process of urbanization. Although excavations since 1948 have revealed extensive data, the Lower Town Level II has not been evaluated holistically in terms of its settlement organization and urban layout. This study presents the first integrated reconstruction of this level's spatial pattern, drawing on planimetric data and the distribution of architectural remains. The findings demonstrate a dual urban fabric, comprising an organically developed zone around the mound and a more formally organized network in the eastern sector, characterized by coordinated streets, intersections, squares, and infrastructure. This analysis provides new insight into early urbanization processes in Central Anatolia and clarifies K & uuml;ltepe's position within broader discussions of ancient urbanism.
Khirbet Ras Al-Tin is located in the West Bank, 10 km southwest of Nablus. During a rescue excavation prompted by construction plans and conducted by the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, a burial chamber was discovered. Subsequent analyses of a human skull and rib fragments from the tomb, including Accelerator Mass Spectrometry radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis, were performed at the HEKAL Laboratory in Hungary. The individual was determined to be an 18-23-year-old male from the local population exhibiting a metopic suture, and the remains were dated between ca. 430 and 600 CE. Moreover, facial reconstruction techniques were employed, providing a rare visual insight into the physical appearance of people living in the Palestinian highlands from the sixth century CE. Isotope analysis suggests a diet rich in legumes and vegetables, possibly supplemented by meat, consistent with that of wealthy populations or specific religious communities in the region.Please note: This article contains images of human skeletal remains.
The findings of archaeological excavations carried out within the scope of the conservation and restoration works initiated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) at the Boukoleon Palace in 2021 led to the publication of this article. The historical and spatial evolution of the Boukoleon Palace, located on the coast of the Sea of Marmara, and the Marmara Seawall in this region are the focus. Archaeological data will be discussed in light of historical texts, with particular attention to how the palace and the seawall changed over time.
This article discusses ten stamped Rhodian amphora handles recovered from the Hellenistic layers of Ta & scedil;l & imath;gecit Mound in the northern Levant corridor. The stamps date from about 209-205 BCE (Euphranor) to about 169/167-140/138 BCE (Kallio), documenting five eponyms and five fabricants. Notably, one amphora features a previously unrecorded connection between the eponym Aristodamos II and the fabricant Nikasion, expanding the known activity range of the latter. Two additional stamps, belonging to Theuphanes II and Aristomachos I, are also published here for the first time. Along with Seleucid coins, these stamps form the main epigraphic evidence for the Hellenistic occupation of the mound. At the same time, associated ceramic groups reveal the site's material engagement with broader Hellenistic cultural practices. Despite the limited assemblage, it adds new, securely dated material to the broader collection of Rhodian amphora stamps. It also offers valuable data for understanding the inland distribution of Rhodian transport amphorae in South Anatolia and North Syria.
This article looks at a handful of Late Cypriot III "Normal Face" figurines that display Egyptianizing features in both posture and hairstyle. After discussing how these figurines are unique in the Cypriot corpus, it shows how the features under consideration can only come from Egyptian precedent. It ends with a discussion of how an understanding of the Egyptian prototype (especially the hairstyle) can offer new insights into the interpretation of Cypriot female figurines.
