Gemstones

Euripides Laskaridis presents "Lapis Lazuli" at Onassis Stegi (107 Syngrou), continuing his trailblazing fusion of theater, dance and visual arts. Following global success, this international co-production explores human fears and the unpredictable nature of existence, drawing inspiration from the metamorphic rock of the same name, in a captivating and enigmatic performance.

At a prominent Shiite shrine in southern Tehran, Qasem Ashgari was buying yet another gemstone ring in the hope it would help his prayers to be answered promptly.

Asghari, in his 30s, who was already wearing several bands on each hand, had a specific ring in mind: A silver one, adorned with yellow agate and engraved with religious scripts.

The Aegean has been a sea of commerce ever since the dawn of the Neolithic Age, and obsidian was one of its most sought-after and valuable exports.

A small, protected, bay with turquoise, clear waters and a verdant hill at one edge

Archaeologists have recovered bone and obsidian tools, beads, and other ornaments

Tree fossils recently discovered in eastern Turkey have provided insights into the country's climatic history, a member of Istanbul University's Faculty of Forestry said on Aug. 18.

Professor Ünal Akkemik told the state-run Anadolu Agency that fossils dating back 160 to 170 million years were found in the eastern province of Erzurum's Narman district.

With its mega projects, Turkey has been making great efforts to connect Asia to Europe through  the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor, the Turkish transport and infrastructure minister said on Nov. 28.

Enormous live mussels have appeared directly along the coastline of the Danube River in Russe. This provoked some of the people to use their free time not only for a walk but also for collecting the enormous specimens of the mussel kingdom.

For archaeologists Afghanistan, rich in ancient treasures and once a key stop on the legendary silk road, is an "open-air museum", albeit one ravaged by war and plagued by looters.

After 30 years of conflicts, Afghanistan's cultural heritage is in dire straits, but one group of archaeologists is trying to put the country's historical sites back on the map - literally.

Large-scale remains of a sunken 3rd millennium B.C. settlement have been located in the sea region near the Fragchthi cave off the coastal town of Kilada (Koilada), in southern Argolida prefecture.