9 February 2026 The Future is the Product of the Past

A 2,000-year-old Roman sewage system has been discovered in western Turkey

The archaeological excavations carried out in the ancient city of Tripolis in the western province of Denizli’s Buldan district have unearthed the Roman-era sewage system.

The Roman-era sewage system, 160 centimeters (5.2 feet) in height and 70 centimeters (2.3 feet) wide.

The excavations have been carried out throughout the year in the ancient city under the direction of Bahadır Duman, associate profession at the Pamukkale University’s Archaeology Department.

Duman told the state-run Anadolu Agency that they had been working in three areas. “While working in the sanctuary, which we can call the heart of the city, we found various finds dating back to the Hellenistic era. A sewer system was detected right under the 1-kilometer-long Colonnaded Street, which is one of the main roads of the city. This year, we cleaned a part of it during the excavations. The gigantic sewer has dimensions that a person can easily enter and walk through,” he said.

Duman stated that all the wastewater of the city was collected in this main sewer system and transferred to Buldan Stream and from there to the Büyük Menderes River at that time.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Tripolis Ancient City
Tripolis Ancient City

Noting that the sewage system reveals the Roman architecture and engineering, Duman said: “The difference of the system in Tripolis from the others is that it is still intact. The main sewer system is one of the rare examples, which makes it important. The city has two 9-meter-wide streets that we have found so far. We believe that this system was made to provide a clean environment. We are planning to open the sewerage systems under all the main streets within five years.”

Related Articles

Export barred on roundel manuscript gifted to Queen Elizabeth I by Archbishop

12 September 2022

12 September 2022

A rare presentation manuscript that Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker gave to Queen Elizabeth I in 1573 has been sold...

Geological Surveys in Mongolia Uncover 3,000-Year-Old Nomadic Khirgisuur Burial Mounds

19 December 2025

19 December 2025

Geological surveys at Mongolia’s Oyut Deposit uncovered 3,000-year-old nomadic burial mounds, revealing Bronze Age and medieval khirgisuur graves. Geological exploration...

The Ancient City of Yijin Among the Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries in China

3 February 2021

3 February 2021

Located in Hangzhou’s Lin’an District, Yijin Ancient City among the top 10 archaeological discoveries in China in 2020. Yijin Ancient...

Paleontologists say world’s oldest-known burial site found in South Africa

6 June 2023

6 June 2023

American explorer and scientist Lee Berger in South Africa said they have found the oldest-known burial site in the world,...

Japan-Persia Ancient Ties

20 June 2021

20 June 2021

Japanese and Persian ancient ties go back to the 7th century. Silk Road connected Japan with countries and regions far...

Torrential Rain Reveal 2500-Year-old Small Bull Statue

19 March 2021

19 March 2021

After heavy rains near the ancient Olympia site, a bronze bull statue of a bull believed to be at least...

Treasure of 1,290 Ancient Roman Coins Discovered by Amateur Archaeologist in Switzerland

16 April 2022

16 April 2022

An amateur archeologist has found a big treasure trove of over 1,290 priceless, ancient Roman coins dating back to the...

The Roman Imperial period, There was Less Waste in the Production of Marble Slabs than Today

17 May 2021

17 May 2021

When talking about the architecture of the ancient Roman Empire, most people usually think of the mental image of white...

A unique 2,800-year-old ivory-decorated piece was discovered in the Ancient City of Hattusa

13 November 2023

13 November 2023

An ivory-decorated piece, estimated to be approximately 2,800 years old, was found during the archaeological excavation in the Hattusa Ancient...

The Anahita Temple in western Iran is Being Restored

11 June 2021

11 June 2021

A restoration project has been commenced on the ancient temple of Anahita, which is located in the city of Kangavar,...

Ancient DNA Reveals Surprising Maternal Lineages at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

28 June 2025

28 June 2025

New research, utilizing ancient DNA analysis, is challenging long-held assumptions about kinship and societal structures in one of the world’s...

The 9,000-Year-Old Bad Dürrenberg Shaman Reveals New Clues to Europe’s Earliest Ritual Traditions

12 December 2025

12 December 2025

On a quiet rise above the Saale River, long before agriculture reshaped the landscapes of Europe, a woman was laid...

In Parion, one of the most important cities of the Troas region, 2,000-year-old mother-child graves were unearthed

1 November 2022

1 November 2022

Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Parion, the most important harbor city in the Hellenistic era, have uncovered  2,000-year-old...

Archaeologists Unearth Carolingian Silver Treasure Hoard

6 May 2021

6 May 2021

A silver treasure hoard from the 9th century AD has been discovered in Poland‘s Osa and Drwęca basin. The hoard...

Metal signature of Roman 19th Legion identified at Teutoburg battle site that shook Rome in AD9

5 December 2022

5 December 2022

Researchers in Germany have identified the metallurgic signature of the Roman 19th Legion in artifacts recovered from the Battle of...