Historical spots in Turkey: Over 5,000 historical artifacts unearthed in Laodicea

May 31, 2024 BTT

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Laodicea Ancient City in Denizli, drew over 100,000 tourists for the first time last year. The historical place which is listed on the “UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List” is also expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors again this year. Discovered by European travelers in the 17th century and dating back to 5500 BC, the first scientific excavation of this ancient city was conducted between 1961 and 1963.

Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Celal Şimşek, excavation and restoration efforts have been ongoing since 2003, marking 21 years of continuous work. Over these two decades, numerous impressive structures and artifacts depicting the life and culture of various periods have been uncovered in the ancient city.

NOTABLE FINDS INCLUDE SYRIA AND STADIUM STREETS, 1750 YEAR OLD FRESCOED TRAVERTINE BLOCKS

Notable finds include the “Syria” and “Stadium” streets, 1,750-year-old frescoed travertine blocks, a 1,906-year-old statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus measuring 3 meters in height, the 2,000-year-old Trajan Fountain, and a 2,000-year-old priest’s head statue. Most recently, the head of a statue dedicated to Hygieia, the ancient goddess of cleanliness and health, was unearthed.

The ancient city, which offers visitors a journey through time, has been captured using FPV drones. Excavation leader Şimşek highlighted the establishment of a significant institutional archaeology project over the past 21 years. He noted that excavation and restoration efforts had been conducted year-round since 2008, leading to the revival of many structures. “Currently, Laodicea is one of the most visited archaeological sites in our country, recognized both nationally and internationally,” he said.

A PLACE WHERE COMMERCE, ART, CULTURE, SPORTS, LITERATURE & MEDICINE THRIVED THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO

Şimşek emphasized Laodicea’s importance as a place where commerce, art, culture, sports, literature, and medicine thrived thousands of years ago and a place which continues to attract tourist interest. He recalled the decline in visitor numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic but noted an increase after the lifting of restrictions, surpassing pre-pandemic figures in 2022.

Last year, over 117,000 people visited the ancient city, marking the first time the number of tourists exceeded 100,000. Şimşek expressed optimism that this trend would continue, expecting more than 100,000 visitors this year as well. Since 2015, Laodicea Ancient City has been visited by 606,662 people.