Ancient silver fortune of 1,100 coins unearthed in Türkiye’s Mersin Cemetery during grave dig

In a surprising discovery in Tarsus, Türkiye, locals preparing a gravesite in a village cemetery unearthed an ancient ceramic jar holding over 1,100 silver coins.

The incident took place in Yunusoglu, a neighborhood of Tarsus, as residents were digging a grave for Nuri Kavas, a 26-year-old man who tragically lost his life in a recent traffic accident. While excavating the burial site, the digger struck a broken ceramic jar filled with a significant number of silver coins. Villagers promptly notified the local gendarmerie of the find, who arrived to secure the area and reported the situation to the local Museum Directorate.

Ancient coins retrieved with precision

Under the supervision of museum authorities and the gendarmerie, the grave site was carefully sifted, and 1,100 silver coins were recovered. Once secured, the coins were transferred to the museum for preservation and further analysis. Following the removal of the artifacts, the burial service for Kavas proceeded as planned.

Yunusoglu’s neighborhood head, Izzet Gokler, shared insights on the discovery: “As the digger was excavating, what appeared to be a historic artifact — a large collection of coins — emerged. We informed the authorities right away. The museum and security forces then conducted a meticulous search to retrieve every coin. In total, 1,100 silver coins were found and taken by officials.”

The significance of find

This unexpected discovery of silver coins, especially in such a setting, has sparked interest among archaeologists and historians. Experts are eager to analyze the coins to determine their origin, possible era, and historical significance.

The museum‘s analysis is expected to shed light on the origins and value of this ancient currency.