Roman military structure unearthed in Hasankeyf

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a 1,600-year-old Roman military structure during excavations in southeastern Türkiye, shedding new light on the region's ancient history.

The discovery was made at Hasankeyf, one of humanity's oldest settlement sites, during an ongoing archaeological work led by Zekai Erdal, an art historian from Artuklu University in Mardin.

Excavations that began in 1984 have previously revealed cultural artifacts from various periods, including the ancient Mesopotamian civilization Assyrian, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the Republican eras.

This year's finding is particularly significant as it confirms historical records mentioning a late Roman military structure in Hasankeyf, which had not been physically located until now.

Findings include a terracotta horse figurine from the Iron Age, a "healing bowl for dog bites and scorpion and snake stings" from the Artuqid period, a plaster human face relief reflecting the Central Asian Uyghur style from the same period, and colorful plaster fragments adorned with plant motifs from the 13th to 14th centuries (similar examples can be seen in the mihrabs of the Great Seljuk and Ilkhanid mosques in Iran).

Additionally, Muslim graves with coffins featuring handles and nails, dating from the Artuqid period to the Ottoman era, were discovered. At the castle, where last year a healing bowl inscribed with talismans, seals and verses, along with two archer's rings made of agate and bone, were unearthed, archaeological excavations continue this year by a specialized team.

During their meticulous work, the teams uncovered the remains of a 1,600-year-old military structure, believed to be from the reign of Roman Emperor Constantius II.

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