At the Hisardere Necropolis in Bursa’s Iznik area, archaeologists found two sarcophagi containing mummified remains from the second century A.D.
Aygün Ekin Meriç, a professor at the archeology department of Dokuz Eylül University in western Izmir province, is leading the excavation, which is being carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Assoc. Dr. Aygün Ekin Meriç, a lecturer in the archeology department at Dokuz Eylul University, told reporters that the necropolis was heavily used in the second and third centuries and that, with the addition of the two most recent discoveries, they have now discovered a total of six sarcophagi in the area.
Unique chamber tombs dating back to the third century were also discovered, he said, noting how spectacular the two newly discovered sarcophagi are.
“Along with the sarcophagi, there are chamber tombs, especially from the 3rd century, unique to Iznik, unmatched anywhere else, with painted interiors and decorated with ornaments.
At the same time, these two latest sarcophagi are very ostentatious.
The sarcophagi were made during the Roman Imperial Period, in the 2nd century. The two came out side by side. Very showy sarcophagi decorated with Eros reliefs on three sides,” he said.
Meriç stated that sarcophagi were unearthed in the illegal excavations carried out in the region since 1989 and that the area was expropriated in 2018 and scientific excavations began in 2019.
Meriç also added that they are excavating a holy basilica built in the cemetery area.
A view from two sarcophagi found in Hisardere Necropolis, Iznik, Bursa, northwestern Turkey.
Pointing out that they also found a small inscription on the mosaic in the basilica, Meriç said, “A woman’s name is mentioned.
The basilica was built in honor of the woman. No name, only the feminine epithet preserved. Excavation of the apse part of the basilica has not been completed.
We will more or less reveal the plan of the basilica in the next period of excavations,” used the phrases.
Meriç said that the basilica is 30 meters wide and 50 meters long, and they think that it was built in a plan similar to the basilica in Lake Iznik from the course of the walls.
Source: archaeology-world.com
