The year 2023 excavation efforts at Sebastopolis Ancient City, one of the largest Roman cities in the Black Sea region, located 69 kilometers from Tokat in the district of Sulusaray, have come to a close.
Spanning a total of 21 days, these excavations were conducted under the auspices of the Tokat Museum Presidency, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akın Temür, a faculty member of the Archaeology Department at Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU). The project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of OMU undergraduate and graduate students, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Tokat Provincial Administration, Sulusaray District Governorship, and the Municipality of Sulusaray.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Akın Temür, the scientific advisor overseeing the ongoing excavation, provided the following insights regarding the recent findings:
"This year's excavation focused on the Byzantine Church and Roman Bathhouse, where previous excavations had been initiated in earlier years. During the excavations in the southern nave of the Byzantine Church, numerous architectural elements, ceramic artifacts, and, notably, a fragmented baptismal font were unearthed. Additionally, this season marked the resumption of excavations at the Roman Bathhouse, which was last explored in 2018. While investigating the eastern boundary of the bathhouse, a stone-paved Roman road measuring 3 meters deep, 20 meters in length, and 5 meters in width was discovered. It was observed that the road extended in a north-south direction and widened towards the east. The upcoming season will continue excavations in this area from where they left off."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Temür, emphasizing that the excavations at Sebastopolis Ancient City will extend beyond the mere extraction and transfer of archaeological artifacts to museums, stated, "We aim for an interdisciplinary approach in the examination of findings from various scientific perspectives. Moreover, we aspire to contribute to the restoration and preservation efforts, which are increasingly needed in our country, to resurrect these remnants. This endeavor is set to invigorate regional tourism by generating significant economic inputs. Furthermore, the research will yield vital discoveries to document interregional cultural interactions and shed light on the city's position within the archaeological realm."
The city, which has a history dating back to 5,000 years and is largely concealed beneath a modern settlement today, is poised to become a focal point of historical significance and tourism interest.
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