Hagia Sophia’s Mysterious Underground Tunnels, Vaults, Tombs to Open for Visitors

The Turkish Ministry of Culture is carrying out a cleaning program aimed at opening to the public the underground spaces of the famous Hagia Sophia in İstanbul, one of the world’s famous architectural wonders.

This project includes the restoration of tunnels, vaults, corridors, and a three-room underground tomb beneath the historic structure.

These subterranean features served a variety of purposes, from ventilation to storage and even burial. They are interconnected, forming a concealed network described by experts as the “lifelines” of Hagia Sophia.

The “Hypogeum,” a three-room underground tomb four meters below the northeast façade of Hagia Sophia, is one of the most fascinating finds. It was built in the fourth century A.D. before Hagia Sophia was built in the sixth century.

The existence of this particular underground structure was known since 1946, but it had been inundated with four tons of mud and sediments. With the large-scale cleaning works of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2020, rubble and mud were cleaned and its grandeur was revealed.

Over time, it underwent various modifications and was linked to other subterranean facilities through ventilation shafts, making it one of the region’s oldest architectural remnants.

Dr. Hasan Fırat Diker, of the Hagia Sophia Science Council, said they’ve studied Hagia Sophia’s underground structures for five years.

The structures surrounding Hagia Sophia are approximately one kilometer long and the cleaning is expected to last one year.

“This study is very important and valuable in the sense that both existing places can be visited, even if only a part of them, and the findings inside are dealt with sensitivity under the supervision of the Hagia Sophia Museum and those that are revealed can shed light on the history of Istanbul,” Diker said.

He adds that the sections under the arcaded courtyard are as old as Hagia Sophia, meaning they are 1,500 years old and the tomb area is believed to be older than the current structure.

Diker noted the importance of addressing both the superstructure and the infrastructure. “It is pleasing that not only the superstructure but also the infrastructure is being addressed,” he noted.

2-Meter-Long Stone Block Found at 12,000-Year-Old Boncuklu Tarla Site in Southeastern Türkiye

A remarkable 2-meter by 20-centimeter processed stone block was discovered during the archaeological excavations at Boncuklu Tarla (Beaded Field), which illuminates the history of humanity with its 12,000-year past in the Ilısu neighborhood of the Dargeçit district of Mardin.

The region, which has hosted 25 civilizations throughout history, including Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians, Urartians, Romans, Abbasids, Seljuks, and Ottomans, continues to reveal ancient human life.

Archaeological excavations in Boncuklu Tarla, initiated in 2012 by the Mardin Museum Directorate have been continuing and led by Associate Professor Ergül Kodaş, a faculty member in the Department of Archaeology at Mardin Artuklu University.

In Boncuklu Tarla, which has an area of approximately 2.5 hectares and was included in the ‘Heritage for the Future Project’ of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism this year, many finds belonging to the period from the Late Epipaleolithic period to the Neolithic Age have been unearthed so far.

The excavations finally uncovered the remains of a ‘public building’, which is estimated to be about 12 thousand years old.

This roughly 10-meter-diameter structure looks to have been in continuous use for a number of phases. It is noteworthy that the building underwent at least four renovations, each of which involved filling in the floor. This finding casts doubt on previous theories that the buildings at Boncuklu Tarla were occupied only once before being abandoned.

In the remains of the structure, a stele (worked stone block) measuring 2 metres 20 centimetres in length and many find such as miniature steles, beads, arrowheads, and bull horns were unearthed.

According to Associate Professor Ergul Kodas, the excavation leader from Mardin Artuklu University, this large stele is a groundbreaking find for the site and the Upper Tigris Valley. “For the first time, such a large stele has been discovered both at Boncuklu Tarla and in the Upper Tigris Valley,” said Kodas.

The stele is especially noteworthy because it bears similarities to those in the Sanliurfa region, indicating a historical relationship between these two regions.

Moreover, a miniature replica of the stele was found inside the structure, offering more information about the connections between the areas at this time.

An invaluable window into the lives of ancient societies in the Upper Tigris Valley is offered by the discoveries made at Boncuklu Tarla.

Continued excavations hold the potential to deepen our knowledge of early human civilization in Turkey by illuminating the lengthy history of the area’s architectural and cultural development.

4,400-Year-Old Jade Cylinder Seal Found in Western Türkiye

A cylindrical seal made of  jade stone dating back to 4,400 years ago was found in Kütahya Seyitömer Höyük (Seyitömer Mound), an Early Bronze Age – Middle Bronze Age settlement located in the western Anatolia region of Türkiye.

The archaeological site of Seyitömer Höyük is located within the Kütahya region of western Türkiye, 350 kilometers south of Istanbul, at an important juncture between the Mesopotamian and Mediterranean worlds.

The ongoing archaeological work at Seyitomer Hoyuk, located within a thermal power plant area, began 35 years ago. It is currently being conducted under Dr. Sevgi Gurdal, head archaeologist at Kutahya Museum, with sponsorship from Celikler Holding.

Since May this year, 25 specialized personnel and a group of 50 workers have been working in the area where finds related to ceramic production, especially the Early Bronze Age covering the years 3000-2000 BC, have been unearthed.

Dr. Gürdal told the AA correspondent that they are working in the Middle Bronze Age and Early Bronze Age layers at the mound.

Stating that one of the most important finds of the 2024 excavation season at the mound was a 4,400-year-old cylinder seal found in the layer dating to the Early Bronze Age II period, Gürdal said, ‘Cylinder seals first appeared in Mesopotamia in the mid-4th millennium. Later, they spread both to Anatolia and to different parts of the world through commercial routes.’

“This cylindrical seal is particularly significant as it is the oldest of its kind found in Inner Western Anatolia,” Gurdal said.

Gürdal stated that only two cylinder seals from the same period, one made of baked clay and the other made of blue feldspar stone, were found in the ancient city of Troy in Çanakkale last summer in Western Anatolia.

Detailed analysis revealed that the seal is made of  jade, a material rare in Türkiye. Although the jade found in Türkiye is normally purple, it is rarely found in green color, Harmancik, a region between Bursa and Kutahya.

Explaining that the seal shows that there is international trade and cultural interaction in the region, Gürdal said, ” It is an extremely important find in terms of showing that it was made under the influence of different external cultures and that it was produced with a type of stone in the region.’

The seal, discovered within a wall of an architectural structure, features a circular perforation and a decorated surface with a cage motif enclosed by circular borders.

1800 Years Old Roman Milestone Used as Seat at Turkish Mosque

A milestone from the Roman Emperor Gordianus III period, which dates to 239 AD, was discovered in the Fatsa district of Ordu province in northeastern Türkiye.

Roman milestones, or “milliarium,” were significant landmarks along the extensive road system of the Roman Empire. These stone markers made it easier for travelers to find their way through the extensive and intricate network of Roman roads by showing the distance to the closest town or city.

These milestones, which were typically placed one Roman mile apart (1,480 meters or 4,850 feet), were marked with details like the road’s name, the distance to the next destination, and occasionally the name of the emperor or the official in charge of building it. Many of these milestones have survived and provide valuable insights into the engineering, culture, and history of ancient Rome.

It was determined that the 1800-year-old milestone was used as a seat by the mosque congregation and citizens for years.

The stone discovered near the Laleli Central Mosque in the Bolaman neighborhood of Fatsa district was noticed by Aydın Bal, a literature teacher at Fatsa Cahit Zarifoğlu High School.

The authorities who took action upon Bal’s notification were Fatsa Municipality Culture Director Cevat Erbil and Ordu University Art History Department Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seçkin Evcim examined the stone and determined that it was a milestone from the Roman period.

The inscription on the stone was translated by Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Sami Öztürk, an epigraphy and linguistics expert from Marmara University. The emperor’s name was honored and this road was rebuilt by him, according to the translated stone inscription.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seçkin Evcim stated that they think that the stone was erected for the construction of a natural harbor road between Bolaman and Yalıköy during the Roman period and said, “The stone found in the second mile of this road was erected for the construction of a natural harbor road between Bolaman and Yalıköy. Unfortunately, the stone was not in its original place; it was found in the 1970s while the mosque’s foundation was being laid and then it was tilted on its side and used for seating.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Evcim stated that a milestone was discovered for the first time in Ordu and that the stone was taken to the Ordu Museum with the support of Fatsa Municipality. Since the stone is not in its original position, additional research will be evaluated in the future.

The history of Fatsa goes back to antiquity, when the coast was settled by Cimmerians, and Pontic Greeks in the centuries B.C. Under Nero, the kingdom became a Roman province in A.D. 62.

In about 295, Diocletian (r. 284–305) divided the province into three smaller provinces, one of which was Pontus Polemoniacus, called after the Roman client-king Polemonium I, which was its administrative capital.

Archeologists Unearthed Ruins of 7th century BC Phrygian Religious Site

Archeologists unearthed ancient ovens and hearths, thought to be belonging to Phrygian who inhabited the region around the seventh century BC, during excavations at Midas Castle in  Eskisehir in northwestern Türkiye.

It was determined that the hearths and ovens unearthed were used by the Phrygians to bake bread with the meat of cattle and sheep sacrificed for religious rituals.

Archaeological excavations at the Midas Castle in Yazılıkaya Midas Valley in the Han district of  Eskişehir started again after 71 years with the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Anadolu University.

Since 2022, important findings were reached in the 26-hectare (88-acre) Midas Castle area during the excavations carried out under the direction of associate professor Yusuf Polat, a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Anadolu University.

Head of the excavation Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polat said that this year they mainly worked in the area called ‘Agdistis sanctuary’ in the upper part of the rocky plateau.

Explaining that they obtained important results in the study around the rock altar dated to the Phrygian period, Polat gave the following information:

‘For the first time, thanks to the extensive excavations carried out in front of a Phrygian altar, we have determined the existence of places where the preparations for the rituals performed in front of the altar were carried out, where there were hearths, with a simple stone foundation and wooden construction.

According to the first determinations we made, in the sanctuary dated to the 8th-7th century BC, that is, the Middle Phrygian Period, at the same time, Lydian ceramics of the 7th-6th century BC, and ceramics and finds belonging to the Roman Period dated to the 1st and 2nd centuries in the upper layers were found.’

A rock idol with abstract depictions of the mother goddess Matar was discovered

The team found four rock basins carved into the rocky platform, along with a rock idol representing the “mother goddess Matar.“

Matar Kubileya was the Mother Goddess extensively worshipped and adored in ancient Phrygia. The word Matar means ‘mother’ in the ancient Phrygian language.

She was the most important divinity in the ancient Phrygian religion. She represented hunting, war, and prosperity and was symbolized by the lion and hawk that accompanied her.

She was associated with mountains and her altars and temples have been mostly found either just outside the city walls or far away from human habitation, in mountains and forested places.

Explaining that they found four rock basins carved into the rocky platform and quadrangular planned hearths suitable for burning from above, Polat said, ‘The rock bowls and the presence of the idol found near the bowls were concrete evidence that this area was consecrated by the mother goddess for abundance and fertility rituals.’

Researchers also determined the area had been inhabited for 250,000 years. The team found Lower Paleolithic stone tools during surface surveys.

Massive Roman Mosaic Floor Discovered in Türkiye

A massive floor mosaic of 84 square meters, which is thought to belong to the Late Roman or Early Byzantine period, was discovered by chance while a farmer was excavating for planting saplings in the Salkaya village of Elazığ, located in the Eastern Anatolia region of Türkiye.

The mosaic depicting dozens of animals, trees, and plant species is considered to be the first of its kind in Turkey with its size, borders, and geometric patterns.

Mehmet Emin Sualp, who planted saplings in his field about a year ago in Salkaya village, 14 kilometers away from Elazığ city center, noticed a mosaic-patterned structure with various patterns on it by chance.

Thinking that the structure he found could be a historical relic, the field owner reported the situation to the Elazığ Museum Directorate and the gendarmerie.

As a result of the investigations carried out in the area, the floor mosaics of a historical building, which is thought to belong to the Roman or Early Byzantine Period, were identified.

Excavation and rescue works were initiated by the Elazığ Museum Directorate under the coordination of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

As a result of the excavation and rescue works spread over a wide area, a floor mosaic of 84 square meters was unearthed in one piece.

The floor mosaic, which is in one piece and depicts animal figures such as lion, mountain goat, duck, greyhound, deer, pheasant, pig, bear, goose, Anatolian leopard, bird, tree, and plant species, is considered to be the first of its size in Türkiye. On the other hand, a church and a wine cellar were also unearthed in the region.

Elazig Governor Numan Hatipoglu, who inspected the area, said: ‘It is in one piece and is an enormous artifact. As a result of our researches in the region, if areas where we need to carry out excavation work again emerge, we will also work on them.

As a result of our studies, if there are historical artifacts suitable for exhibition and display in the region, we will develop a different strategy for this place. If not, we will prepare this historical artifact for exhibition in Elazığ Center.’

Governor Numan Hatipoğlu also thanked the citizen who found the mosaic.