Monumental 2000-year-old Roman stoa unearthed in Amasra, Turkey

Restoration of a 2,000-year-old Roman colonnade is underway in the ancient city of Amastris in Bartın, Turkey, in what is considered the most monumental Roman-era marble structure of the Black Sea region.

Habertürk, Haberler, T24, and Anadolu reported on the restoration works in Amastris, among other news websites.

Under the leadership of Prof. Fatma Bağdatlı Çam, studies were conducted in an area of 2,850 square meters. Çam is the Director of the Archaeology Center at Bartın University. "Both in its dimensions and architectural ornaments, the monumentality of the structure shows us that it is the only stoa structure in the Black Sea Region," she said. Çam assessed that the structure will also contribute to the development in tourism in the Western Black Sea, especially in Amasra. "We are witnessing the awakening of this ancient city founded by Queen Amastris after many years," she added, according to Anadolu Agency.

The stoa structure, built in the Corinthian column order, is being restored to its original state. The structure had collapsed due to natural disasters during the Roman period. Çam noted that the re-erected columns reveal the grandeur of the structure and have started to give a visual idea of how it will look when fully restored.

The ancient city of Amasra dates back 2,000 years. It was discovered during a school construction in the Kum neighborhood of Bartın in 2017. Historical remains revealed the region's rich history, leading to ongoing excavation works that have uncovered the stoa structure.

According to Çam, the structure's Corinthian column capitals and architectural ornaments rival those of famous ancient cities of the Mediterranean and Aegean, showcasing the monumentality of Roman architecture in a small port town. "This is not just a temple; it is a unique structure that proves the region's monumentality and cultural richness," she said.

Çam explained that the ancient city had an agora surrounded by stoa structures. In previous years' works, heads of statues of Alexander the Great, a water nymph, and household gods were found, along with amulets, coins from different periods, and fragments of inscriptions.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq