Roman necropolis unearthed in Zonguldak’s ancient city Tios

A significant Roman necropolis has been unearthed in Zonguldak’s ancient city Tios. Located in the Filyos district of Caycuma, this discovery sheds new light on the region’s history.

The excavation project at Tios is being carried out with the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, supported by Türkiye Petrolleri (TPAO) and TP-OTC.

Led by professor Sahin Yildirim, chair of the department of art history at Bartin University, the work is being conducted by a 44-member team. So far, 96 sarcophagi, 23 chamber tombs, seven cist graves, 60 tile graves, and 1,317 inventory items have been discovered.

Unique discovery in Black Sea region

Professor Sahin Yildirim highlighted that the excavation has revealed a necropolis area previously unknown in other ancient Black Sea cities.

“Tios is the only ancient city in the Black Sea region with no modern settlement on top of it. We have uncovered a vast necropolis extending from the late 5th century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. The necropolis is dated to the Roman period and is organized like a city, with streets and alleys,” he explained.

Significance of necropolis and discoveries

The excavation revealed a 500-meter-long street lined with sarcophagi on either side.

Additionally, chamber tombs believed to belong to high-status individuals of the time were found on the slopes. Yildirim noted that over a thousand items have been cataloged, and these artifacts are preserved at the Karadeniz Eregli Museum Directorate. Important findings include inscriptions and tombstones from the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The Tios necropolis holds great significance for Black Sea and Turkish archaeology.
Yildirim stated, “This area has been remarkably preserved and maintains its original character. No other Black Sea ancient city has such a necropolis. We also observed that during the Gothic invasions, many tombs were opened, and valuable items were taken. However, the Romans later restored and continued to use the necropolis.”

Human skeletons found during the excavation suggest familial connections among those buried in some chamber tombs.

Additionally, some chamber tombs were reused by the Byzantines in the sixth century A.D., revealing burial practices of high-status Roman families.

The Roman necropolis at Tios offers crucial insights into Roman-period social structures and burial practices. The ongoing excavation and subsequent developments are expected to enhance the cultural and touristic value of the Tios.