11th century church ruins found in Balıkesir

BALIKESİR

Ruins of a church dating back 800 years have been unearthed at the ancient city of Adramytteion in the northwestern Turkish province of Balıkesir’s Burhaniye district.

The find comes just two weeks before the end of this year’s seasonal works.

Murat Özgen, the director of the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Northern Aegean Research and Application Center, said excavations at Adramytteion have been continuing since 2012.

“This year excavations have continued in a field on the Ören Hill, which we call ‘Region C.’ A big church was found during excavations between 2000 and 2006, dating back to the 11th century. During the works two years ago we found the apse of the church. We already knew there was destruction in the 11th century. The latest church we have found confirms this knowledge as it was destroyed. Now we have two weeks to finish the works here. Our reconstruction plan for protection has also been approved,” Özgen said.