Queen Amastris' city rises again

Restoration work is being carried out to restore an approximately 2,000-year-old stoa structure (colonnaded gallery) from the Roman period, located in the ancient city of Amastris in the northern province of Bartın's Amasra district.

Examinations of artifacts uncovered during rescue excavations initiated two years ago by Bartın University (BARÜ) revealed that the district had been home to magnificent structures during ancient times.

A Roman-era stoa structure, featuring marble columns reaching up to nine meters high, was identified in the excavation conducted over an area of 2,850 square meters under the leadership of Professor Fatma Bağdatlı Çam, the director of BARU's Archaeology Application and Research Center. The structure, built in the Corinthian order (a classical architectural style), is being restored to its original state using its authentic components.

The restoration work, supported by Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO), is being carried out by lecturers, students and volunteers from BARU as well as Istanbul, Denizli Pamukkale, Van Yüzüncü Yıl, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts, Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey and Malatya İnönü universities.

Blocks, ceiling coffers and architectural fragments belonging to the structure, much of which remains underground, are being unearthed during works.

So far, three columns have been raised using the Anastylosis technique — a restoration method that reconstructs structures piece by piece using their original components. When completed, the restoration of this grand structure as a Roman stoa is expected to transform it into a major tourist attraction.

Çam stated that the stoa structure was discovered during excavations that began in 2022 in the area where historical remains were uncovered during...