Onur Zunal

Excavations at Claros Sanctuary have been the longest-running excavations ongoing under Ege University's Archaeology Department, says excavation head Associate Professor Onur Zunal, while shedding light on how Claros emerged as a prophecy center in the past.

New findings show that the ancient city of Claros, the world's oldest prophecy center located in the eastern province of İzmir, has been actively used more than known, until the end of the 8th century, an adviser for the excavation team has said.

Until today, Claros was known to be "abandoned with the beginning of the rise of Christianity."

During the ongoing excavation works in Claros, located in İzmir and considered as the oldest oracle center in the world, some pieces of monumental statues of Apollo, Artemis and Leto have come to light.

The pieces have been moved to an area where conservation works will be carried out.

Excavations in Claros, the oldest oracle center in the world according to archaeological data, will continue for 12 months with the support of the Presidency of the Turkish Historical Society.