Archaeologists excavating an ancient site in central Türkiye have uncovered new mosaic floors and architectural remains dating from the Roman and Early Byzantine periods.
The discoveries were made in the Örenşehir neighbourhood of İncesu, in Türkiye’s Kayseri province, where ongoing excavations are revealing an extensive archaeological complex buried beneath the surface for centuries.
Described by local authorities as the largest known mosaic structure in Central Anatolia, the site contains extensive mosaic floors alongside architectural remains associated with several phases of ancient occupation.
Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr Memduh Büyükkılıç recently visited the excavation to inspect the latest discoveries and review ongoing efforts to conserve the site.
Roman and Early Byzantine remains
Archaeological investigations at Örenşehir have uncovered mosaic surfaces and structural remains dating from the Roman imperial period and subsequent Early Byzantine era.
Evidence from the excavations indicates that the complex underwent several phases of construction and occupation, reflecting the long history of settlement in this part of Central Anatolia.
During antiquity, the wider region occupied an important geographical position between major settlements and routes extending across Anatolia.
The newly exposed architecture and mosaics are providing archaeologists with further evidence of the development and character of the settlement during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
Büyükkılıç visited the excavation alongside Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Şükrü Dursun, municipal officials, Head of the Department of City History, Promotion and Tourism Gürcan Senem, Dr Can Erpek of Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, Kayseri Museum Director Gökhan Yıldız and the local neighbourhood headman.
The delegation received a briefing from specialists working at the site on the progress of the excavations and the newly uncovered remains.
Büyükkılıç described Kayseri as an “open-air museum”, referring to the concentration of archaeological and historic sites located throughout the province.
Largest known mosaic structure in Central Anatolia
The Örenşehir Mosaic Structure has been officially designated an archaeological site because of its cultural and historical importance.
According to local authorities, it represents the largest known mosaic structure discovered in Central Anatolia.
The surviving floors provide important evidence of mosaic craftsmanship and architectural traditions in the region during late antiquity.
Excavations are continuing to determine the full extent of the complex and establish the function of its individual structures.
Further investigation may also help archaeologists understand how the site developed through successive periods of occupation and how it related to the wider settlement landscape.
The discoveries add to the extensive archaeological record of Roman and Byzantine Anatolia, where centuries of settlement have left behind a rich architectural and artistic legacy.
Plans to protect the mosaics
Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality is working with Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism on measures to protect the newly exposed remains.
Plans also call for a covering over the excavation to protect the mosaics and architectural features from environmental damage.
The authorities are also looking at visitor facilities so that the site can be opened to the public but the archaeology is conserved for the long term.
Officials are examining the possibility of connecting the excavation with the existing City Museum in İncesu, where artefacts recovered during archaeological investigations could potentially be displayed.
The project forms part of wider efforts to promote cultural tourism and raise awareness of Kayseri’s archaeological heritage.
Archaeological heritage of Kayseri
Kayseri occupies a historically important area of Central Anatolia that has been inhabited by numerous cultures and civilisations over thousands of years.
The wider region contains archaeological evidence associated with the Hittite, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk periods, among others.
Discoveries at Örenşehir are adding another layer to this history and highlighting the archaeological potential of sites beyond the province’s better-known ancient monuments.
Büyükkılıç thanked the archaeologists, conservation specialists and local residents who worked on the project and stressed that remains should be preserved for future generations.
Excavations are ongoing and more architecture and mosaic compositions will be revealed as archaeologists explore areas of the complex that have never been uncovered before.
The ongoing finds at Örenşehir are helping researchers paint a clearer picture of Roman and Early Byzantine occupation in Central Anatolia as well as the size of the ancient settlement under modern-day İncesu.
Sources : Lhlas News Agency