Roman-Era Sarcopghagus has been unearthed in Istanbul, Turkey. Everything happened during the excavation works of an apartment demolished. Overall, this excavation is a part of the urban transformation project in Istanbul. The conclusion: there were also bones belonging to the human body, besides the sarcophagus.
Roman-Era Sarcopghagus Found With the Human Remains Inside
The early dwellers made the tomb carved out of stone. There were also markings that show this was from the Rome-invaded era of the country almost two millennia ago. Two archaeologists and an anthropologist from the Istanbul Archaeological Museums Directorate conducted an examination of the construction site.
As a result of the three-hour examination, the human bones found in the tomb were taken out. After the completion of the examinations, they lifted the sarcophagus with a crane and took it to the Istanbul Archaeological Museums Directorate. Since Istanbul’s foundation, the city developed under the dominance of several civilizations.
Also, Istanbul was a center of various cultures. Three of the most powerful empires in history, Rome, Byzantine and Ottoman, declared the city as their capital. As a result, numerous temples, buildings, churches, palaces and baths from several cultures found their place in the city.
Istanbul – the Capital of Many Empires
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After the conquest of the city by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II, the city became the new capital of the empire. On the other hand, former citizens had freedom of religion and social rights. With the religious buildings of former residents, Turkish art left its marks on the city, and domes and minarets dominated the city skyline.
Overall, various eras and different regions on the planet have their own ways of burying their dearly departed ones. This was especially during a time when there were still wars or conflicts frequenting nations or tribes. The most famous ones are from Egypt. Their main focus was on the mummification process of their royalties and their subjects.
Istanbul’s recent discovery shows that stone tombs and sarcophagi were once a practice for the early days. It is reminiscent of the present-day mausoleum which commemorates the dead with their own homes.
