Excavations at Zeugma to resume

The ancient city was flooded under the rising waters of the Birecik Dam.

May 12— Further treasures from the world famous ancient Roman city of Zeugma in the south east Turkey may see light of day thanks to the efforts of the governor of the province of Gaziantep, Lütfullah Bilgin.

Zeugma, which housed what was considered the best and largest examples of Roman mosaics in the world, was inundated by the waters of the Birecik Dam, completed in 2001. Before the waters rose to cover the ancient city, archaeologists carried out frantic excavations to salvage as much of the relics of Zeugma as they could. However, only a fraction of the city’s treasures could be saved.
Though the city itself is now under the waters of the dam, built across the Euphrates River, Gaziantep’s governor said that there were still sites of archaeological significance to be studied and excavated.
“Everyone knows that villas of the Roman aristocracy villas were above Zeugma. There is need for excavations to bring them to light,” Bilgin said.
Gaziantep had gained an international profile during the efforts to save the relics of Zeugma, Bilgin said. With this mounting fame the city had become a tourism destination, the governor said, saying that facilities in Gaziantep had been developed to match the rising flow of visitors.
However, despite having the stunning mosaic pieces rescued from Zeugma to offer to the public, Bilgin admitted that Gaziantep does not a good enough museum to put them on display.

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