Swimming through an ancient basilica

Underwater research is continuing on a Roman basilica that was discov-ered in Lake ?znik in 2014. ?znik's district governor and mayor recently joined the underwater team to see the basilica Donning their wet gear, administrators in the northwestern province of Bursa recently dove into Lake ?znik to take a look at ongoing archaeological work on a basilica whose discovery last year attracted attention around the world.

"It is very exciting to touch an underwater structure," ?znik District Gov. Ali Hamza Pehlivan said following his recent dive to see the basilica along with ?znik Mayor Osman Sarg?n and Uluda? University (UÜ) Archaeology Department head Mustafa ?ahin.

"The aim of the work is not to remove the basilica from its place. People will be able to visit it underwater through an underwater system," Pehlivan said.

Underwater archaeology works have been continuing on the Roman-era basilica that was discovered last year in Lake ?znik. 

 
The 1,600-year-old basilica, which lies in 1.5 to 2 meters of water, was discovered while photographing the city from the air to make an inventory of historical and cultural artifacts. Archaeologists, historians and art histori-ans believe that the structure collapsed during an earthquake that occurred in the region in 740.

Conducted by the Uluda? University Archaeology Department in collabo-ration with the Culture and Tourism Ministry and Bursa Metropolitan Mu-nicipality, the work aims to obtain detailed information about the basilica.

Before the dive, the district governor said preliminary work had started on the ancient site in 2014 and that they organized the dive to see the basil-ica in its original location. 

"When the work is completely...