During the restoration work carried out in the area where Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum is planned to be built, a sarcophagus and a cist-type tomb buried under the mosaic were found. Skeletons of a man and woman, presumably Roman, were found inside the sarcophagus.
Archaeological excavations in Zeytinburnu in the area where Kazlıçeşme mosaic is located continue to rewrite the history of Istanbul Sur Dışı and to break historical memories.
The mosaic that was unearthed from the site and dated to approximately 1600 years ago, gave clues to the existence of life and architecture in Istanbul Surdağı in those years and surprised historians. While investigating why the mosaic structure in question was built there and whether it was connected with a building, archaeologists came across new findings at the site and it became clear that the extra wall history of Istanbul was different from the predictions.
While the mosaic restoration work was in progress, archaeologists found a sarcophagus, a cist grave, the remains of a building presumed to be a wastewater system, coins, and ceramic fragments. Two skeletons, one male and one female, and a skeleton whose chest gender has not yet been determined were found inside the lait tomb.
Archaeological ruins that will rewrite the history of Istanbul Sur Dışı were announced to the public at a press conference.
President Ömer Arısoy: We have encountered new archaeological findings that surprise and delight
Speaking at the press conference, Mayor of Zeytinburnu Ömer Arısoy said, “While we were trying to restore the found mosaic and our museum studies were continuing, we came across new findings that surprised and delighted us. The excavation is not finished here yet. It seems that we will go down further. Our starting point here is a mosaic museum in Zeytinburnu. “This is our goal. Both the committee and the archaeological museums are aware of this. There does not seem to be any obstacle from what has been found so far. All the detections here were recorded on camera.”
Rahmi Asal: We came across the skeletons of two people buried in the same sarcophagus’
Later, the lid of this sarcophagus was carefully removed together with the experts of the Restoration and Conservation Central Laboratory Directorate, and the bones and skeletons of the two individuals inside were studied. Bone samples will be sent to TUBITAK and age determinations will be made. There were two people in the sarcophagus. One is female, one is male. Women are between the ages of 20-30, men are between the ages of 40-50. It is noteworthy that both of them have health problems in their teeth. In a male individual, there is a fracture of the rib in a skeleton, and then there is healing during his lifetime, and his rheumatic disease can be understood from his joints. The second sarcophagus is actually a brick-built tomb. It is covered with 2 pieces of limestone blocks, covered with marble inside. “There is only one individual buried in it,” he said.
Coins confirm date predictions
Asal stated that no dead gifts were found in the cemeteries, and that there were ceramic pieces, coins and various historical artifacts in the area, adding, “The coins found clearly confirm the dating estimates we made before. We are now sure that there was a building in this area around 400 AD. “It is not certain what happened, but someone lived outside the city walls at that time. There was a brad building in the late Roman period. As the work continues, we can find more surprising information,” he said.
Ömer Arısoy: We are pleased to have met the first residents of Zeytinburnu
Stating that the future of the excavations will be decided together with the relevant institutions, Mayor of Zeytinburnu Ömer Arısoy stated that they want the works to be completed as soon as the excavation discipline allows and the area to be converted into a mosaic museum: “The sarcophagus, which surprised us all and surprised the experts, was found. “We are pleased to have encountered the first inhabitants of Zeytinburnu. We will follow the developments together, these are the first finds, we will follow the excavation. Probably a multi-layered exhibition area will emerge. Both the mosaic and an exhibition where some of the finds you see here will be exposed.”
Stating that they can undertake the exposition of the sarcophagus by establishing a security device, Arısoy said, “Our Zeytinburnu, our Istanbul is faced with a new witness, a new find, a new relic. It will add great value to our Zeytinburnu. We were saying that Zeytinburnu has all the elements that can be a cultural tourism destination in many ways. “We have a very fertile soil, as we dig, very valuable elements come out. Together, we will continue and complete the excavation with all its elements, in coordination with all institutions and organizations.” said.
Arısoy, who also gave information about the characteristics of the historical building and the process, said:
“The building we are in front of was built as a military hospital in the late 1800s. After various uses, it is a building that was used as the Zeytinburnu Municipality from 1984 to 2015 with the establishment of Zeytinburnu Municipality. It went into restoration and a mosaic was found on the floor of a room inside the building. This mosaic was opened for conservation and exhibition. After we took office in 2019, we carried out an excavation under the supervision of archeology museums, considering the possibility that the mosaic would continue outside the building, as well as in the section currently used as a parking lot. A mosaic was also found outside the building.”
Arısoy added that they think that the sarcophagus and mosaic belong to the same period and that the results of the studies will make a new contribution to the history of Istanbul and Zeytinburnu.
– Kazlicesme Archaeological Excavation Site
In the historical building, which was built as a military hospital in Zeytinburnu Kazlıçeşme, and also used as the Zeytinburnu Municipality Presidential Building; Pursuant to the Istanbul No. 2 Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Institution Decision; Early Byzantine Period mosaics, which are thought to belong to the 5th century AD, were found at the Directorate of the Istanbul Archeology Museum Directorate.
After the restoration and conservation processes, the mosaics were taken under protection in Kazlıçeşme Art Building and started to be exhibited as of 2018.
Under the supervision of the Istanbul Archeology Museums Directorate, trial excavations were carried out in order to determine the spread of the mosaic, and the search for new mosaics by archaeologists was positive.
With the discovery of the new area, located approximately 1.5 meters below the parking lot of the historical building, 3/4 of the mosaic was completed. During the work of Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum, after the mosaics were removed for restoration and conservation, a Roman sarcophagus in which 2 people were buried was found in the lower levels of the mosaic structure.
Experts continue to investigate whether the sarcophagus found is related to the mosaic structure. In addition, a study is underway at Kazlıçeşme Mosaic Museum where these works can be exhibited. The new finds will be exhibited in a multi-layered form in the museum when the works are completed.
After the statements, journalists and officials toured the excavation site.
Source: arkeolojikhaber.com
