Turkish tourism officials hope to attract tourists with archaeological sites

STORY: Turkish tourism officials hope to attract tourists with archaeological sites SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 23, 2024 DATELINE: March 12, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:54 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: CULTURE/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Istanbul 2. various of the site of the ruins of the Saint Polyeuktos Church 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): ALI ASKER, Archeologist of Istanbul Municipality's Directorate of Cultural Assets Projects 4. various of the site of the ruins of the Saint Polyeuktos Church 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): ALI ASKER, Archeologist of Istanbul Municipality's Directorate of Cultural Assets Projects 6. various of the site of the ruins of the Saint Polyeuktos Church 7. various of Huseyin Gazi Cosan, director of Istanbul Municipality's Tourism Division, receiving interview 8. SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): HUSEYIN GAZI COSAN, Director of Istanbul Municipality's Tourism Division STORYLINE: Saint Polyeuktos Church was an ancient Byzantine church in Constantinople, today's Istanbul, Türkiye. The church was commissi

Ancient Roman statue unearthed in Istanbul, Türkiye

STORY: Ancient Roman statue unearthed in Istanbul, Türkiye DATELINE: April 4, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:13 LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: 1. various of Istanbul 2. various of the ancient Roman statue STORYLINE: Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient statue buried beneath a park in central Türkiye's Istanbul, the Istanbul municipality announced on Monday. The statue, believed to be from the Roman era, is of a torso wearing a himation, an outer wrap worn by men and women in ancient times, the municipality said in a press release. The statue was found one meter underground at the Sarachane Archaeological Park at the Sarachane neighborhood. The park locates at the site of the ruins of the 1,500-year-old Saint Polyeuktos Church. Built between 524-527 AD, the church remained in use until the end of the 10th century. The church remained lost to time until 1960 when the construction of an underpass in Sarachane uncovered ruins. Istanbul Archaeological Museums and Oxford University began exca