The main street of the Stratonikeia Ancient City, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in the Yatağan district of Muğla, is being renovated.
The excavations started in 1977 in Stratonikeia, which is known as the "city of gladiators" and shown as one of the largest marble cities in the world, continues for 12 months.
In the ancient city, which is important for the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine as well as the Menteşe Principality, Ottoman and Republican periods, new artifacts are brought to light every year, and historical buildings in the city are restored.
The structures in Stratonikeia Ancient City take visitors on a journey through time with its 3D technology.
"We found 1216 artifacts last year"
Head of the Stratonikeia Ancient City Excavations Committee Prof Dr Bilal Söğüt told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the structures from different periods in the historical area have been preserved as a whole.
Stating that they had a productive work period last year, Söğüt said, "We delivered 1216 artifacts that we unearthed in 2022 to the Muğla Museum. Although we have just started this year, we have reached 37 artifacts in the excavations. Especially in the city, we are digging the area that we can call the center and main street of the main city, where the Roman bath, west street, parliament building and Ağa Konakları are located."
Söğüt stated that the restoration works in the city continue and they carry out projects with the Governor's Office and Yatağan Municipality.
Pointing out that they work with women from the neighborhoods of Yatağan in the ancient city, Söğüt said, "Our employees are mostly women. We had a very productive process together last year. We will continue to work in the field in the same way this year."
"We are making an effort to promote the ancient city and Yatağan"
Yatağan Mayor Mustafa Toksöz noted that thanks to the excavations, many people brought bread to their homes and that historical and cultural places were cleaned and organized in a better way.
Expressing that they believe Stratonikeia is the most important ancient city of Muğla, Toksöz said:
"As Yatağan, we will participate in the Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair EMITT for the first time on April 10-16. At the fair, we will arrange the entrance of our Governor's stand as the entrance gate of Stratonikeia. We have tried to create an environment where the tourists can have a good time, visit and understand the history. The ancient city has become a city where a citizen, a tourist can come and spend time until the evening and feed self in a historical and cultural sense.
Toksöz noted that they restored the village coffeehouse in the ancient city square, and the restoration work of the headman's mansion continues.