Ancient city of Teion photographed from air

ZONGULDAK – DHA

This year, excavation works in the ancient city of Teion in Filyos in the Black Sea province of Zonfuldak’s Çaycuma district have been photographed from the air after 12 years. 

The ancient city is believed to have been established in the sixth century and the settlement has existed there until the 13th century A.D. 

Students have been working on the excavation with diggers, shovels, grubbers, and brushes. 

The excavations, which are believed to make many contributions to the Black Sea history, started in Teios in 2006 on an area of 60 hectares. 

So far, written documents from various periods, a bath, church, temple, harbor, a castle and its coastal walls, an aqueduct, remnants of breakwater, ancient theater, tombs, coins, metal pieces, and ceramics have been unearthed.

Last year, eight sunken ships were also found underwater. The ships are believed to date back to the Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk eras. 

This year’s excavations continue under the chairmanship of Bartın University Archaeology Department Head Associate Professor Şahin Yıldırım. A team of 50 people, including university students, workers and experts are carrying out the works. The team works 12 hours a day in hot temperatures of 30 degrees to unearth the ancient city. 

Foundations of chateau found 

They have found remnants of a chateau believed to have been used by the Genoese, Yıldırım told state-run Anadolu Agency. They have focused on the highest point of the ancient city, known as the acropolis, Yıldırım said. 

“Excavations are in the 12th year. The ancient city’s harbor, theater, temples, churches and walls have been unearthed so far. Books were printed and restoration works were initiated. This year, we focus on works in the acropolis of the ancient city. Works continue on the aqueduct and the walls from the early Roman era,” he said. 

“The Black Sea coasts have been Turkified in the Seljuk era. A sealed ring from the Seljuk era has been unearthed. This peninsula has a history of 3,000 years. This is why we have found artifacts from the Persian, Alexander the Great, Byzantine, Genoese and the Seljuk. Finally, we have found the foundations of a chateau from the Genoese era as well as various structures from the era of Alexander the Great,” said the associate professor. 

The underwater works last year revealed the Filyos coast had been an important trade center, Yıldırım said. 

“This year’s underwater works will start in August. Eight shipwrecks were found last year. We will carry out excavations on the ones close to the coast and uncover trade organizations from the ancient age in the Black Sea region,” he added.