Istanbul 6,000 years older than expected

Recent archaeological findings indicate that the Turkish city of Istanbul is 6,000 years older than what experts previously believed.

According to Al-Watan newspaper, excavations have yielded four skeletons, along with wooden and ceramic objects, which date back to 8,500 years ago.

It was previously believed that the city was founded 2,700 years ago by the Greeks and named Byzantium, RIA Novosti reported.

Historically known as Constantinople, Istanbul was Turkey's capital until 1923, when the government moved to Ankara.