Ancient Roman harbor to reappear in Urla

İZMİR

When the project is done, visitors will be able to take Roman-era style boats on a tour of the area. DHA Photos

Ankara Univetsity will recreate a 2,000-year-old Roman harbor in one of the oldest coastal towns in the Aegean region, İzmir’s Urla district, in its original place. The harbor will have boats, catapults, depots and the same equipment used in the Roman era, which will be constructed to resemble their original appearance. When the harbor construction is completed, visitors will be able to take the Roman-era style boats on a tour of the area. 

According to a statement made by the university, the project, which is the first of its kind, will be realized in collaboration with the Culture and Tourism Ministry. 

Speaking about the project, Ankara University Underwater Archaeology Research and Application Center (ANKÜSAM) founder and Liman Tepe excavations head Professor Hayat Erkanal said, “This project is the first in the world. We will start working to prepare boats and weapons first. The detailed construction will start in a year.” 

Erkanal said catapults of the Roman era would also be in the harbor, adding, “There were buildings in the harbor for loading and registration, we will build these buildings. We have found out that there was a small church in the harbor in the late period. But we will build a harbor from the early Roman era. It will be established on land allocated by the Urla Municipality. We will build at least two boats from the early Roman era. The area will be open to tourist visits when the work is finished. We will try to keep this area a living place. Visitors will be able to tour in the Aegean sea on Roman boats.”  

Ankara University Rector Professor Erkan İbiş said the project was important for Turkish tourism. He said they will revive every aspect of the Roman harbor. 

“We will build the very same Roman harbor here. Tools, boats, loading vehicles are being created just like their original,” he said.