Centuries-old burials discovered near Antandros Ancient City in Turkey

Ancient tombs were discovered during a foundation excavation at a building site near the ancient city of Antandros, which is located in Turkey’s western Balkesir province’s Edremit district.

The situation was reported to the Balıkesir Museum Directorate after the remains of graves were found at a depth of 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) during the foundation excavation with construction equipment in Antandros Street in Altınoluk District. Balikesir Museum Director Aytekin Yılmaz and archaeologists came to the construction site and examined the area.

After the examination, an archaeological dig was launched under the supervision of professor Gürcan Polat, the head of the ancient city of Antandros excavations and an academician at Ege University’s Faculty of Letters Archaeology Department. The digs revealed pithos, sarcophagus, and cremations burials dating back to the third, fourth, and fifth centuries B.C.

Professor Gürcan Polat said that the graves unearthed in the ancient city of Antandros belong to the period from the first century to the eighth century B.C. “The newly discovered graves in the new construction area are important as they show that the necropolis area, that is, the cemetery of Antandros, continues 150 meters to the west. There are adult graves, but most of them belong to children, which is interesting.”

Polat added that the finds will be re-evaluated after the excavation works are completed in the area.

The area where the pitos, sarcophagus, and cremation burials belonging to the 3-4th and 5th centuries BC were placed under protection.