In a discovery that will go down in history, archaeologists have unearthed an exceptionally well-preserved Roman mosaic floor in a farmer’s orchard in eastern Turkey, not far from the Roman Empire’s old border with Persia.
The first to make the discovery was the farmer himself, who spotted a section of the mosaic while planting trees. Upon revealing his find to the authorities, the competent team of experts was mobilized to complete the excavation.
The scenes with the animals
The richly decorated floor occupies 84 square meters and is believed to be the largest of its kind ever found in Turkey. The impressive Roman-era mosaic has not yet been precisely dated. But it is thought to have been created sometime during the late Roman Era, possibly in the third or fourth century AD.
The mosaic imagery consists almost exclusively of hunting scenes (of animals ambushing or hunting other animals). Particularly special is an image of a rare leopard from Anatolia which is depicted grabbing an ostrich by the neck.
Other scenes depict a lion chasing a he-goat. A bear chasing a deer, and hounds chasing a wild boar.
Also depicted are pheasants, ducks, geese against a background of rose and pomegranate trees.
The impressive mosaic, “is the first of its kind that has survived to this day in its entirety and with the depiction of animals, all of which were endemic to the region.”
Emre Çayır, the chief archaeologist of the excavation, which was funded by the Elazig Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, told “Art Newspaper”.
“There may be larger mosaics elsewhere in Turkey, but these are made up of geometric patterns or mythological themes.”
The farmer, Mehmet Emin Sualp, lives in the village of Salkaya.
The mosaic was hidden 50 cm below the soil
In April 2023, he accidentally discovered the mosaic for the first time while digging holes and planting cherry seeds. In an impressive way, although the work of art remained for many centuries in obscurity, it was found only 50 centimeters below the soil, hidden.
Only recently, professional archaeologists, failed to complete their thorough excavations of this extremely rare find. The floor is believed to have been located in a house in an ancient settlement near the village of Salkaya, about 500 kilometers east of Ankara.
While today, this village is a quiet area, during the Roman period, the settlement was bustling with life and prosperity, as it was close to the border with Persia.
To date, nothing has come to light that could reveal anything definite about the identity of the owner of the house where this impressive mosaic was created.
However, Emre Çayır is almost certain that it was a Roman official who had the floor commissioned as a show of power and wealth.
According to Çayır, in the depiction of the mosaic, there is symbolic meaning.
“A Small Miracle”
“The lion and the bear symbolize authority in the Roman tradition, while the depiction of hunting dogs reminds people that they are part of the food chain and shows how craftsmen used metaphor to convey their ideas.”
Miraculously, the impressive mosaic remained protected and preserved. Excavations at the site and its surroundings show that a wooden ceiling had collapsed over the floor at some point in the past, offering it some protection.
In addition to the floor, the excavation team from the Elazig Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum has uncovered several structures, or facilities, including an irrigation canal, a basalt road, and possibly a wine-making facility.
A few coins were found at the site, which suggest that the area may have been occupied during the late Roman period and possibly the early Byzantine or Eastern Roman imperial period.
Discovering and recalling a forgotten era
Conservators are working diligently to protect the mosaic, which has been covered to protect it from the weather. No decision has yet been finalized on the management of the mosaic, which could be moved to a museum, or left exactly where it is and a structure built around it.
The unexpected discovery is an important archaeological development in the region, as it offers rare insights into the lifestyle of the wealthy Romans and the life and culture with which they enriched Anatolia.
In the coming months, more artifacts will come to light, providing even more evidence about the daily lives of the powerful during the Roman era.
Source: www.enikos.gr
