15 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

2,000-year-old Monumental Tomb of Roman Elite discovered in Apollon Smintheus sanctuary in Türkiye

A 2,000-year-old monumental tomb from the Roman era has been unearthed at the Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary in the village of Gülpınar, Çanakkale, western Türkiye.

Initial assessments of the skeletons found within the burial chamber inside the vessel revealed that more than 10 individuals, including children and adults, were interred in this tomb, their remains disturbed and mixed, the Daily Sabah reported.

Researchers suggest that this tomb might have been commissioned by affluent individuals due to its plan, indicating the existence of monumental tombs during the Roman Imperial period at Smintheion.

The Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary (Smintheion) refers to an important ancient religious site located near Troy in ancient times. This sacred area was dedicated to Apollo Smintheus, known as the god of mice and also revered as a deity associated with plague and epidemic diseases.

The Smintheion temple was built in the ancient town of Hamaxitus around 150 B.C. in Ionic style.  Pieces of the entablature have survived, decorated with scenes from the Iliad. The ancient settlement is thought to have been founded in the 8th or 7th centuries B.C.

Photo: İHA

The region was utilized for religious ceremonies, festivals, and offerings. It is mentioned in Homer’s “Iliad” and is believed to have played a significant role in determining the outcome of the Trojan War. Archaeological excavations have unearthed various temple remains and artifacts in this area, providing valuable insights into the ancient era.

This year excavation was in the necropolis (cemetery) northwest of the Apollon Smintheus Temple. Excavations at three different points revealed remnants of two tombs alongside foundational remains of some structures.

Excavations and restoration efforts at the temple, a project initiated in 1980, were carried out this year by a team comprising approximately 20 experts and students from various scientific disciplines, under the leadership of Davut Kaplan from the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University’s Department of Archaeology (ÇOMÜ).

In the 2023 excavation at Apollon Smintheus Temple in Gülpınar village, a 2,000-year-old Roman-era monument tomb was found in the necropolis. Initial assessments of disturbed skeletons suggest over 10 individuals, including children and adults, were buried there. Photo: IHA

Hüseyin Yaman, a member of the excavation team, stated in an interview with Daily Sabah, “We aim not only to acquire information about the burial traditions of individuals and communities that once existed here but also to contribute to the delineation of the distribution area of sacred structures, or in other words, to determine the boundaries of the sacred area. In line with this goal, in the excavations conducted at three different points, we revealed remnants of two tombs alongside foundational remains of some structures. Based on the artifacts found in the only room that seemed to have survived with intact foundations in the monumental tomb, we estimate its origin to be approximately 2,000 years ago, around the first century A.D.”

Investigations at the site will continue in the coming years, opening up the possibility that more tombs will be uncovered, according to the archaeologists.

Related Articles

2-Meter-Long Stone Block Found at 12,000-Year-Old Boncuklu Tarla Site in Southeastern Türkiye

18 December 2024

18 December 2024

A remarkable 2-meter by 20-centimeter processed stone block was discovered during the archaeological excavations at Boncuklu Tarla (Beaded Field), which...

4,900-year-old Copper Age Fortress with a Violent Past and Odd Roman Burial Found in Spain

13 February 2025

13 February 2025

A remarkable 4,900-year-old Copper Age fortress, featuring a pentagon shape, three concentric walls, 25 bastions, and three ditches, has been...

“Exceptionally rare” gold sword pommel given to Scottish national museums

24 October 2022

24 October 2022

An “exceptionally rare” solid gold sword pommel found by a metal detectorist near Blair Drummond, Stirling, has been acquired by...

Archaeologists Uncovered a 1,600-Year-Old Rare Mikveh and Synagogue in Ostia Antica, Near Rome

13 March 2025

13 March 2025

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, researchers have unearthed a 1,600-year-old rare mikveh (ritual bath) and an ancient synagogue at the...

The biblical narrative of Sodom may have been inspired by a cosmic meteorite that devastated an ancient city

21 September 2021

21 September 2021

The Bible account of Sodom’s destruction lies at the heart of classic “fire and brimstone” judgment day prophesies. But what...

An unexpected shipwreck was unearthed at the Tallinn construction site

18 April 2022

18 April 2022

During the construction of the office building on Lootsi Street in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital on the Baltic Sea, a shipwreck...

This summer, a 2,000-year-old “thermopolium” fast-food restaurant in Pompeii will reopen to the public

8 August 2021

8 August 2021

Archaeologists excavated a 2000-year-old fast food and drink counter “termopolium” on the streets of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii...

Archaeologists Uncover Unique 6th Century Mosaic in Abandoned Byzantine Monastery

9 April 2025

9 April 2025

A recent excavation report from the Israel Antiquities Authority has revealed the discovery of a well-preserved Byzantine-period monastery and farmhouse...

Danish museum says Vikings had stained glass Windows

15 October 2023

15 October 2023

New research shows that  Viking Age windows were created using stained glass in the 9th century, contrary to popular belief...

A rare sheep carriage and ancient chariots found near mausoleum of China’s first emperor

28 October 2023

28 October 2023

A rare “six-sheep” carriage and a four-wheeled wooden chariot were discovered near the mausoleum of Qinshihuang, China’s first Emperor during...

1,500-year-old secret underground passage uncovered in Istanbul

15 May 2023

15 May 2023

During the ongoing excavations in the ruins of Saint Polyeuktos Church in Istanbul’s Saraçhane neighborhood, which was destroyed during the...

Mystery of the 1,700-year-old Mosaic Solved: The Medallion in the Mosaic uncovered to be the Symbol of a Roman Military Unit

10 August 2024

10 August 2024

The mystery of the 1,700-year-old mosaic, which was found during excavations in Amasya province in northern Turkey 11 years ago...

İnscriptions in Turkey is Showing How Romans Tackled İnflation

21 March 2021

21 March 2021

The largest marble city in the world, located in western Turkey in the province of Muğla, draws attention with large...

Ancient helmets, temple ruins found at a dig in Velia southern Italy

1 February 2022

1 February 2022

A discovery that “sheds new light on the history of the mighty Greek colony” by Velia. Archaeologists in southern Italy...

The Largest Medieval Coins Treasure found in Recent Decades discovered in Germany

16 August 2024

16 August 2024

Archaeologists have unearthed one of the largest medieval coin hoards, consisting of approximately 1,600 coins, in recent years in the...