Gaby
Farmer Mehmet Emin Sualp stumbled upon an ancient 84-square-meter mosaic floor while planting seedlings in his field in the village of Salkaya. The floor is unusually well preserved. The find is near the city of Elazig in Turkey’s Eastern Anatolia region.
This mosaic, which depicts dozens of animals, trees, and plants, is the first of its kind discovered in Turkey.
When he saw the patterned floor, he realized he had uncovered something extraordinary. He reported his discovery to the police and the directorate of the Elazig city museum. Archaeologists arrived to begin cleaning and studying the mosaic. Experts believe it dates back to the Roman or early Byzantine periods. Researchers will determine its exact origins. Excavations are currently underway, led by the Elazig museum’s directorate with support from Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The mosaic features dozens of animal figures — a lion, mountain goat, duck, hound, deer, pheasant, pig, bear, goose, and leopard — along with birds and various species of trees and plants. Around the same time, archaeologists also unearthed an ancient church and a wine cellar in the region, Arkeonews reported.
Numan Hatipoglu, the governor of Elazig, inspected the site and said he was thrilled by the mosaic. He thanked the farmer for the find and said he supports further excavations in the region. The governor said artifacts like this should be conserved and put on display so as many people as possible can see them.
