1,600-year-old mosaics unearthed again after 41 years
Excavations at the ancient city of Idyros in Kemer District of Antalya Province in Turkey in 1976 led to the discovery of 1,600-year-old mosaics but the relics were later covered back over and have been brought to light again.
Antalya Museum Director and the ancient city of Idyros excavation Project Manager Mustafa Demirel told Anadolu Agency (AA) that archeological sites and ruins from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk periods were discovered in Kemer District.
Demirel said that the ancient city of Idyros was established on AYÕŞÕĞÕ Bay and is now surrounded by modern buildings. He added that based on archeological ¿ndings in excavations of an ancient church, the site was used from the Hellenistic period until the Roman and Byzantine eras. Demirel elaborated that the excavation of an ancient basilica at the site indicates that the site dates back to the fourth or ¿fth century, dailysabah.com wrote.
Speaking about the history of archeological excavations, Demirel said that some ancient ruins and mosaics were unearthed during excavations conducted in the site in 1976 by the Antalya Museum, but said that work at the site had to be stopped and resumed later.
Demirel said that excavations started again in the region under the instructions of Antalya Governor Münir Karaloğlu, who visited the town, as well as permission granted by the Cul- ture and Tourism Ministry. He stressed that the work be conducted by Assistant Professor Murat Karademir as the scienti¿c advisor with the participation of students from Konya’s Selçuk University.
Explaining that the mosaics, which were found on the Àoor of ancient church during the 1976 excavation, he underlined that the mosaics were restored before being re-covered, going on to note that the mosaics were later unearthed 41 years afterward under the supervision of experts from the Antalya Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory Directorate.
He said that excavations are mainly conducted in and around the church, which is thought to have been located at the center of the ancient city, adding that they are trying to get a better understanding of the layout of the complex.
Noting that the parts of the site which were covered with mosaics during the period include the base slabs of the site where religious ceremonies were held during ancient times, also known as the ‘central naves’, as well as the left and right sides of the basilica churches.
Demirel added that during the excavations, the tradition of mosaics from the period was understood more clearly.
Explaining that the ruins of the ancient Byzantine walls, a three-door structure and a wall were discovered during the excavation works, Demirel said that the Àoor of the church was covered with mosaics made of orange, red, white and gray stones. He also said that many oil lamps and coins from the late-roman period were also found in the excavation.