Discovery Unveils Private Homes at Assyrian merchant colony in Anatolia
Archaeologists working at the renowned Kultepe archaeological site in central Turkey have achieved a significant breakthrough, uncovering private residences on the main mound for the first time in decades of excavation.
Editor's pick This post is part of hand-picked stories from across the web, curated by the editors of the Assyria Post.
"The newly discovered houses predate the arrival of Assyrian merchants by several centuries, challenging earlier assumptions that only grand structures occupied the summit of Kultepe. Professor Kulakoglu explained that Kultepe has been home to successive monumental buildings since at least the third millennium BC, with palaces and temples being destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout its long history. "This shows Kultepe has been a major center not only during the Assyrian merchants' time but long before, from around 6,000 years ago," he noted.
The discovery represents what Kulakoglu describes as "a new event" for the archaeological team. The presence of private homes among the palaces suggests a more complex urban layout than previously understood. These residential structures contained distinctive ceramics and architectural elements that set them apart from other areas of the settlement, indicating possible social stratification among the inhabitants. The houses likely belonged to administrators, craftsmen, and other professionals who worked within the monumental complexes but needed to live nearby."
On August 7, 2026, Assyrian communities around the world observed the Day of Remembrance for Assyrian Martyrs. On this day, the victims of persecution and mass killings are commemorated, particularly those who perished during the Simele massacre in Iraq in 1933.
The best cookbooks offer more than recipes—they tell the stories of the people behind them, their heritage, and their struggles. That’s exactly what makes The Oldest Kitchen in the World by Matay de Mayee such a treasure.
In a collaboration between Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) and the University of Baghdad, an ancient Babylonian hymn dating back over two millennia has been rediscovered and fully deciphered.
Almost two years after his passing on September 17, 2024, the voice of Evin Agassi still echoes deeply within the hearts of many Assyrians. Agassi was more than a musician; he was a cultural bridge, a storyteller of homeland longings, and a unifying symbol for millions scattered across the globe.
Meet the man who has invested countless hours translating forgotten Assyrian magazines issued more than a century ago, and in the process discovered the thoughts and developments that continue to shape the Assyrian nation today.
A century after its official establishment, Qamishli remains one of the most important reminders of how Assyrians rebuilt their lives after the destruction of their ancestral communities in the Ottoman Empire.
The two oldest Assyrian church rites have been able to preserve their existence for more than fifteen centuries, putting them among the oldest existing organizations in the world.
Gary Manners
