Excavations resumed in the ancient city of Bathonea, where Viking remains were found

Excavation works for the year 2024 started in the ancient city of Bathonea in Avcılar district of Istanbul.

Bathonea Ancient City, where Viking remains were found during excavations four years ago, is included in the Top Ten List of the World’s Most Important Archaeological Discoveries.

Excavations at the ancient city of Bathonea, which plays an important role in revealing and preserving the historical and archaeological heritage of Istanbul, have been continuing since 2009.

In the 2020 excavation season, the remains of a Viking who apparently died at the age of 20 were found. The person, who probably died in the 10th century, had a yellow cross from the Baltic Sea region on his chest.

In the previous years, traces of earthquakes and the grave of one of the people who died to spread Christianity were found. During the excavations, a large number of coins were found in the layer, while a huge building was detected under a field in the geophysical system researches. In the building, which was determined to be a customs building, traces of the Umayyad siege of Istanbul were found.

Bathonea Ancient City Excavation Head Prof. Dr. Şengül Aydıngün said, “We estimate that the building was destroyed in 680 AD. We think this was caused by an Umayyad attack. We know that the Umayyads moved to besiege Istanbul at that time and we found the first traces of this siege here.”

Aydıngün said, “We have identified two large harbours so far. We named one of them as the Great Port and the other as the Small Port. At the same time, the oldest cistern of Istanbul and the largest cistern of the period it was built is also here. It is a giant cistern with a capacity of 7 thousand cubic metres of water. There are a few monumental structures. We determined that it was an ancient hospital. There are many medicine bottles inside. Materials for making medicine were found.”

The ancient city of Bathonea bears the traces of the Thracian/Frig tribes, whose existence was disputed until it was proved that they migrated to Anatolia via the Bosphorus Strait 3,000 years ago.

Many international universities and institutes are participating in the excavations of Bathonea Ancient City.

Cover Photo: IHA