# Kültepe-Kaniş archaeological excavations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kltepe-kani-archaeological-excavations
> Updated: 2026-10-22T10:05:15.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

Archaeological excavations at the Kültepe-Kaniş site in Kayseri, Turkey, have uncovered a mosaic-floored structure dating to the Hellenistic Period. This discovery is a significant milestone for the site, where excavations have been ongoing for 78 years and have previously focused primarily on the Bronze and Iron Ages.

The project is a collaborative effort involving the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ankara University, and the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of South Korea. Led by Professor Fikri Kulakoğlu, the team identified four successive Hellenistic cultural layers near the Warşama Palace. The mosaic floor measures approximately 163 by 165 centimeters, though fragments suggest the original structure was larger.

Researchers noted that data regarding later periods had been difficult to secure due to illegal excavations and surface damage from agricultural activities. The findings provide new evidence of monumental architecture and historical continuity in the region. Local authorities and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are planning to protect the site and eventually open the area to controlled tourism.

## Claims

- A structure with mosaic flooring from the Hellenistic period was discovered at the Kültepe Kaniş-Karum site. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Excavations at Kültepe have been conducted for approximately 78 years. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The Kültepe site has a history spanning 6,000 years. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- New findings in İncesu Örenşehir reveal Roman and Early Byzantine period remains. (single source)
- The Örenşehir findings indicate a time period spanning from the 4th to the 2nd century. (single source)
- The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working on projects to protect and open the Örenşehir site to visitors. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-22: Kültepe archaeological site reveals Hellenistic mosaic structure

Excavations at the Kültepe Kaniş-Karum site in Kayseri, Turkey, have uncovered a Hellenistic-era structure with mosaic flooring, marking a major discovery in the site's 78-year history.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kltepe-archaeological-site-reveals-hellenistic-mosaic-structure

### 2026-10-20: Kültepe-Kaniş archaeological site yields Hellenistic mosaic

A Hellenistic-era mosaic structure and four distinct cultural layers have been discovered at the Kültepe-Kaniş site in Kayseri, marking a significant milestone in the location's 78-year excavation history.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kltepe-kani-site-yields-first-hellenistic-mosaic-discovery

---
Cite as: Kültepe-Kaniş archaeological excavations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kltepe-kani-archaeological-excavations