Excavations at Ani Archaeological Site, a medieval city in Kars province of eastern Türkiye known as the “City with 1,001 Churches” and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are continuing with researchers uncovering new evidence about the city’s Seljuk-era commercial, residential and social life.
The 2026 excavation season is focused on five areas of the ancient city, where archaeologists are investigating a Seljuk marketplace, residential structures, a cemetery and a bezirhane, a facility believed to have been used for oil production.
The work is being carried out by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Kafkas University, with archaeologists, art historians, architects, restoration specialists and anthropologists working alongside university students and volunteers.
Experts work on excavations at the Ani archaeological site, Kars, eastern Türkiye, July 10, 2026. (İHA Photo)
The excavations are being conducted at one of the most important medieval settlements in the region, where researchers say new discoveries are helping to reveal how people lived, traded and interacted in Ani centuries ago.
