The vivid mosaic depicts native animals like lions, goats, ducks, wild boars, and Anatolian leopards.
IHA PhotoThe mosaic features dozens of detailed depictions of local wildlife.
An unsuspecting farmer in Türkiye’s Eastern Anatolia region recently made a groundbreaking discovery: a nearly 1,000-square-foot mosaic from the Late Roman or Early Byzantine period just beneath the dirt. Experts have said it is the only one of its kind to be found in the region.
The vivid pattern features dozens of trees, plants, and animals that were found in ancient Türkiye. Now, work has been done to remove the dirt entirely from the mosaic, revealing it in full for the first time in centuries.
A Turkish Farmer Discovers An Ancient Roman Mosaic
IHA PhotoThe sprawling mosaic measures just over 900 square feet.
Farmer Mehmet Emin Sualp was recently preparing to plant trees on his land near Elazig, Türkiye, when he struck tiles beneath the ground.
“I noticed the mosaic while planting,” said Sualp, according to Türkiye Today. “Since then, I’ve been involved in the excavation work. It’s impossible to assign a monetary value to this discovery now. The museum will know best what the site is worth.”
Sualp purchased the farmland in 2020 for just $3,500, making the discovery of this one-of-a-kind mosaic all the more staggering. Even more remarkably, the mosaic is still in one piece despite the centuries that have passed since it was first laid down.
IHA PhotoArchaeologists have worked to uncover the mosaic in full while preserving it.
Archaeologists from the Elazig Museum Directorate and Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism quickly gathered to carefully excavate the site, making sure to preserve the ancient tiles in the process. They dated the mosaic to the Late Roman or Early Byzantine period, around the late third to early sixth centuries.
The massive mural depicts various trees, plants, and wildlife — including lions, mountain goats, ducks, greyhounds, pheasants, geese, and Anatolian leopards — that populated the area at the time the mosaic was created.
“This is an incredible find for our region,” said Elazig’s governor, Numan Hatipoğlu. “The vibrant representation of local fauna, including bears, wild boars, and various deer species, vividly reflects the area’s biodiversity during the Roman and Byzantine periods.”
Future Plans To Excavate The Site Surrounding The Mosaic
IHA PhotoResearchers are optimistic about future discoveries in the region.
Hatipoğlu emphasized the importance of conducting future archaeological work at the site. A church and a wine cellar were also discovered nearby recently, suggesting there may be even more buried beneath the dirt.
“As a result of our research in the region, if areas where we need to carry out excavation work again emerge, we will also work on them,” Hatipoğlu said. “As a result of our studies, if there are historical artifacts suitable for exhibition and display in the region, we will develop a different strategy for this place. If not, we will prepare this historical artifact for exhibition in Elazig Center.”
The governor and experts from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism all agree that the mosaic will certainly draw in tourists and more researchers. The discovery highlights the rich historical landscape of Türkiye while additionally underscoring the importance of the region’s archaeological heritage.
Not only is it a massive discovery, purely in terms of size, but it is also a finely crafted piece of art that has miraculously withstood the passage of time. As researchers continue their work in the region, it should be expected that even more fascinating archaeological discoveries will be made.
After learning about this massive mosaic unearthed on a Turkish farm, read about the time a farmer in Gaza also accidentally uncovered a Byzantine mosaic. Then, read about the mosaic found beneath a Turkish villa.
