Anavarza in Anatolia has richness of 10 ancient cities

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city Anavarza in the southern province of Adana’s Kozan district are continuing on a 30-35 meter-wide cobblestone road.

 The scientific consultant of the excavations, Çukurova University Archaeology Department’s Assistant Professor Fatih Gülşen said excavations had started last year and continued with some 40 people.

“Anavarza is very important for the history of Anatolia. It is established on an area of 143,000 square meters with a castle, stadium, ancient theater, mosaics, bathes, churches, gates of victory, aqueducts and stone graves. It is the largest ancient city in Anatolia. So far 1,300 columns have been found in surface explorations. When the works are done, we will have richness tantamount to 10 ancient cities,” he said.

Gülşen said archaeologists had unearthed a cobblestone street that is larger than the ones in ancient cities such as Ephesus and Side.

Even this street shows the magnificence of Anavarza, said Gülşen, adding, “This ancient city, where festivities and Olympic games were organized once upon a time, got the title of Metropolis in history. The remains of the ancient city will be unearthed and Anavarza will regain its glory. Thousands of tourists will walk on its streets.”

Located within the borders of Dilekkaya village, the Anavarza ancient city was one of the most important Anatolian metropolises in the Roman era since the 2nd century, according to Gülşen. The city is also known for Dioscorides Pedanius, the founder of botanical medicine.

He said the city also had an amphitheater, built for animal shows.