20.06.2025 10:41
During road expansion work in Ordu, two tile grave remnants believed to date back to the Roman or Byzantine period were discovered. While road work in the area has been halted, excavations conducted by archaeologists revealed a skull and bone fragments from one of the graves.
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In March, road widening work was initiated on Bayraktaroğlu Street in the Akkese neighborhood of the Altınordu district. During the ongoing work by the Altınordu Municipality teams yesterday, a shovel of the excavator got stuck with tile pieces. Upon reporting the situation, the work in the area was halted, and the Ordu Museum Directorate was informed. Archaeologists and museum staff found two tile graves, believed to be from the Roman or Byzantine period, covered with tiles during their initial examinations of the site.
RESCUE EXCAVATION INITIATED
Following this, a rescue excavation was initiated in the area. In the ongoing work conducted with the assistance of archaeologists, a skull and bone fragments, believed to belong to a human, were uncovered in one of the graves. The findings were taken to the Ordu Museum Directorate for examination. Meanwhile, the exact period and structural characteristics of the graves will be clarified as a result of the upcoming archaeological assessment.
"HISTORICAL FINDINGS HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED"
Altınordu Mayor Ulaş Tepe stated that the process is being carried out with sensitivity in coordination with the relevant institutions, and said: "During the road widening works we are conducting as a municipality, historical findings have been encountered in our Akkese neighborhood. Following this development, we, as a municipality, immediately halted the work, showing the necessary sensitivity. Scientific rescue excavations are being carried out by expert archaeologists in the area. After the excavation work is completed, necessary evaluations will be made, and we will reshape our road work in cooperation with our relevant institutions," he said.
"BONE FRAGMENTS WERE FOUND"
Akkese Neighborhood Muhtar Ömer Manav also stated, "While doing the road widening work, our operator friend saw a stone of a different color on the shovel of the excavator. He then called me. I reported the situation to the authorities. Teams from the museum directorate came. In the examination, they determined that the stone piece was a tile and that there was a tile grave here. Then excavation work was initiated. They later opened the graves. Bone fragments were found inside. As locals, we are also excited. We are watching the work as if we are watching a documentary. We are curious about what will come out," he said.
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