Excavations at Rabbit Island unveil ancient city of Myndos

BODRUM - Doğan News Agency

As a result of the excavations on Rabbit Islan, the King’s Road, churches from the Christian era and storage houses have been revealed. DHA photo

The ancient city Myndos has been unearthed in on Tavşan (Rabbit) Island in the district of Bodrum. The excavations, which lasted for four years finally revealed some important artifacts and monuments. As a result of the excavations, the King’s Road, churches from the Christian era and storage houses have been revealed.

Archaeologists also found stone tablets that had Myndos written on them. The Roman Emperor Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus’ thousand-year-old temples were also uncovered. The excavations also revealed tombs that date back to the early years of Christianity.

The excavations were conducted by Professor Mustafa Şahin of Uludağ University’s archaeology department. The island is close to the shore, and tourists can walk through 50 to 70 meters of shallow water to reach the island.

A temple of Roman Emperor Traianus, who lived between 53 and 117 A.D., was among the discoveries.
The ancient city has been taken under protection. The excavation work is expected to end within two years, and an archaeopark will be opened on Rabbit Island.

Rabbits of the island

As part of a project titled “Rabbits and history will live,” Rabbit Island also got its rabbits back. The fauna and the environmental conditions of the island are suitable for rabbits. In the past there were many rabbits, and with this new project rabbits have been returned to the island. As part of the project, five rabbits have been placed on the island.

The project was started as part of the Myndos protection and excavation work.

Bodrum district Gov. Mehmet Gödekmerdan and actor Salih Güney have started a project to help protect the rabbits.

Bodrum Underwater Museum manager Emel Özkan and Myndos ancient city president Mustafa Şahin came to the island and joined Güney as he gave information to journalists.

“The island, which took its name from rabbits and has a 2,500-year history, lost its rabbits because of the excavations. The rabbits that had been sent to Bodrum have been brought back again,” Gümüşlük Mayor Tire said.

It is important to have rabbits on this island, as they are a part of the island’s environment.

“The rabbits that we brought to the island are a part of a project that we are planning: to make an archaeopark. They will be living heritage and history, as they are part of it,” Şahin said.

They are aiming to open the island to tourists, Şahin said, adding that the rabbits belonged on the island and there would be more of them in the future.

The rabbits had been taken to other protected areas and are now being returned, he added.