Remains of ancient settlement discovered under rails in Istanbul
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E-mail Xinhua, August 7, 2018
ISTANBUL, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- A recent archaeological discovery under the railway tracks of Istanbul's iconic train station strengthened the idea that the region was an ancient commercial center with links to the sea, according to local authorities.
About 20 Turkish archaeologists have recently discovered some remains which they believe were from a late Roman-Byzantine coastal city at Haydarpasa Train Station in the Asian side district of Kadikoy.
"The excavations revealed that there was a coastal town in the area where Haydarpasa Train Station now stands," Aykurt Nuhoglu, mayor of Kadikoy district, said while examining the site.
Remnants of a Turkish bath and various other structures, and traces of waterways and roads have been unearthed upon the removal of the rails, Kadikoy district municipality said in a press release.
The excavations have been going on for two months in this area covering the train station which was closed for restoration, the release said.
"According to the estimations, a lost port could also be found in the area," Nuhoglu said, adding that the archaeologists hope to find it during their diggings as they believe the remains could spread on a larger area.
"We accept that this area was used as a settlement," Coskun Yilmaz, head of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, was quoted by Daily Sabah as saying.
"When we look at this area, we see traces of four historical periods, as remains of the late Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Republican periods can be found," he added.
In Yilmaz's view, the findings at Haydarpasa are yet another proof of Istanbul's historical wealth.
Pieces of old pottery and coins were also discovered during the excavations, which have been coordinated by the Istanbul Directorate of Archaeology Museums.
The historic Haydarpasa Train Station, which was constructed in 1908 on the basis of a project of two German architects, was shut down in 2013 for renovation.
The station is expected to be operational by the end of this year. Enditem
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