Excavations start in 'sunken city' in İzmir

A Roman ancient city, discovered during one of the world's most important archaeology projects, the Liman Tepe excavations, is set to serve as an archeopark after excavations end.   

Some spots on the sea in Urla were detected on aerial photos, which later turned out to be the ruins of the ancient city of Klazomenai. Later on, underwater works were initiated under the coordination of Ankara University Research Center for Maritime Archaeology (ANKÜSAM), finding the ruins of settlements from 7th century B.C. to the Roman era.

Works that have been ongoing since 2000 in the archaic port of Liman Tepe have revealed that settlement existed there for nearly 6,500 years. Last year, a Roman-era city was found on the coasts of Karantina Island. 

The works have recently started to unearth the Roman city, which is estimated to have collapsed in an earthquake in 1,000s B.C.

Hayat Erkanal, the head of the Liman Tepe excavations, said they focused on the Roman city as the second excavation spot and completed the preparations for the excavations and the process of approval. 

He said the city's big structures, roads and columns are visible, adding that they will work to unearth them completely. 

"We will go into a different work this year. We want to arrange this place as Turkey's first underwater archeopark. We have completed all legal process transactions. This is a well-preserved Roman city with its roads and columns. We need to protect it in its original place; we cannot move it to another place. Once the city is unearthed, people will be able to dive here with the accompaniment of expert guides. We will organize tours by boats with glass floors," he said. 

Erkanal stated the underwater archeopark is rare in the world...