Roman sewage found in the "City of Gladiators" kept draining water effectively for 2,250 years

During recent excavations in the ancient city of Stratonikeia in the Turkish province of Muğla, archaeologists discovered a sewage system dating back 2,250 years, including a sewer under the theater large enough to walk in that has drained water effectively for over two millennia, according to HaberTürk. Professor Dr. Bilal Söğüt, the head of the Stratonikeia Ancient City Excavation Team, expressed his excitement over the find. "Water is still flowing away by itself even after 2,250 years. That's why we are incredibly happy," he stated, as reported by Haberler.

The sewage system, notable for its advanced engineering, channels water from the theater toward a nearby stream. "All these sewage systems are connected to the streets and flowed towards the stream, discharging without causing any discomfort to the city," Söğüt said.

"The discovery of the sewage system reveals the historical richness of the region and the lifestyle of ancient settlements," he added. In an interview with the Anadolu Agency, he stated that many structures have been uncovered in ongoing excavations, bringing history to life as important artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods are revealed.

Stratonikeia, known as the "City of Gladiators," has been included in the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites since 2015. Professor Söğüt explained that Stratonikeia is a settlement of the indigenous peoples of Anatolia, the Carians and the Lycians.

Archaeological excavations in Stratonikeia have been ongoing since 1977. Excavation, conservation, and restoration works are ongoing in various areas of the ancient city, including the theater.

In 2019, the excavation team found a sewage system starting from the north city gate, extending through the north street, west street, Roman bath, and library.

The finding was reported by Turkish news outlets, including, HaberTurk, Haberler, Anadolu, and Diken, among others.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq