Mesotimolos waits to be discovered

UŞAK – Anadolu Agency

AA photo

Mesotimolos, an ancient city from the Lydian civilization located close to the Aegean province of Uşak’s Düzköy district, awaits archaeological excavations for its discovery. 

Home to rock houses and tombs, as well as human footprints marked on volcanic ruins, Mesotimolos will be unearthed during scientific researches and aims to attract history and nature tourism with its fairy chimney-like formations.  

Uşak Gov. Ahmet Okur said the region called the “castle area” was a significant destination historically and geographically.  

He said that in the valley surrounded with volcanic rocks, one could see rock-carved houses and tombs from Mesotimolos as well as the footprints of people who lived there thousands of years ago. 

“This place needs attention for excavations and research. There are lots of ruins from old civilizations in the region. They are valuable enough to be unearthed. This is an untouched historical field,” he said. 

Okur said the region also drew attention for its fairy chimney-like formations and added that they wanted the region to be sites for history and nature tourism. 

“Archaeological works will contribute to the recognizability of the region. These formations are worth seeing. This is not a well-known place but it’s a nice walking route. I invite all nature lovers here; it needs to be known and visited. It is also a special area for fans of photography. I believe that scientific work will bring more visitors to the region. It is close to the Ulubey Canyon, so it could be recognized within a short time.” 


Area requires urgent protection

Assistant Professor Ahmet Atasoy, an academic at Uşak University’s Geography Department, said the studies were ongoing in the field and emphasized the region needed to be discovered. He said the age of ancient human footprints in the field should be examined and taken under protection as soon as possible. 

“We believe that those footprints were from the first years of the volcanic formation. As it is known, such volcanic structures exist in the Kula region. The region is home to rock houses and tunnels that reach out to tunnels. In this sense, this place has archaeological value. We have strong clues that it was an ancient settlement. Feasibility works should be done urgently, the place of the formations should be determined and an archaeological team should carry out works here,” Atasoy said.