# Archaeological and cultural activities in Sardis

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/archaeological-and-cultural-activities-in-sardis
> Updated: 2026-08-31T08:37:00.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Recent activities at the Sardis Ancient City in Manisa, Turkey, have highlighted both cultural events and archaeological discoveries.

An astrophotography project was conducted at the Temple of Artemis, utilizing long-exposure techniques to capture the Milky Way and celestial phenomena alongside the ancient columns. The project also included timelapse documentation of the stars over historical structures and the Gymnasium area.

Simultaneously, excavations of a massive fortification wall dating to the Lydian Kingdom have revealed the use of baked bricks embedded in mudbrick. This construction method suggests that Assyrian engineers may have introduced these technologies to the Lydians following the collapse of the Assyrian Empire. To protect the site from erosion, researchers are using millimeter-accurate mapping and creating exact replicas of the bricks for preservation purposes.

## Claims

- The wall currently measures 12 meters in height and 20 meters in width. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The construction utilizes baked bricks embedded within mudbrick layers, a technique not previously seen in Anatolia during that period. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The use of baked bricks suggests that Assyrian craftsmen may have fled to Sardis following the collapse of the Assyrian Empire. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The wall's construction date is estimated to be between the late 7th and mid-6th centuries BCE. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The wall is part of the Lydian fortifications, built by King Croesus and his father Alyattes between the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The excavation team is using a cloning method to preserve the 2,500-year-old structure. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: Sardis Ancient City wall reveals Assyrian architectural influence

Archaeologists at Sardis Ancient City have discovered that a massive Lydian fortification wall used unique baked brick technology, likely introduced by refugee Assyrian craftsmen in the 6th century BCE.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sardis-ancient-city-wall-reveals-assyrian-architectural-influence

### 2026-08-22: Sardis Ancient City hosts astrophotography event at Temple of Artemis

Astrophotographers captured the Milky Way and star trails at the Temple of Artemis in the Sardis Ancient City, Manisa, combining ancient history with celestial imagery.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sardis-ancient-city-hosts-astrophotography-event-at-temple-of-artemis

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Cite as: Archaeological and cultural activities in Sardis. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/archaeological-and-cultural-activities-in-sardis