Bath used during Roman period uncovered in ancient city of Sillyon

Founded on a high hill in the early 2000s BC for security reasons, the ancient city of Sillyon houses various structures from the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods, and excavation work is still ongoing. As part of the 'Future Heritage Project' launched by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism this year, excavation work in the ancient city has accelerated, resulting in the discovery of a bath from the Roman and Beylikler periods. The head of the Sillyon Ancient City excavations and a faculty member at Pamukkale University, Associate Professor Dr. Murat Taşkıran, stated that archaeological excavations have been ongoing without interruption since 2020. He added that starting in 2024, the excavation work will be carried out intensively under the 'Future Heritage Project' sponsored by OPET in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Describing their work on the bath from the Roman Empire, Taşkıran stated: 'The bath was built in the 2nd century AD and expanded into a large facility in the 3rd century AD. It includes washing rooms, pools, and several rooms in its inner courtyard, making it a significant complex. Unexpectedly, we encountered another structure during our excavations. In the area where the Roman bath is located, we found a bath that we believe dates back to the 14th century. This was a great surprise for us. As a result of our work, it was revealed that this is a Turkish bath dating to the Beylikler period.' Taşkıran explained that after the region came under Turkish control, it was transformed into a garrison, emphasizing that the security of Antalya and its surroundings was maintained from within the ancient city of Sillyon. He noted that the excavation work has yielded findings related to this historical context. Taşkıran noted that the bath findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the period's history, culture, and artistic expression. He continued: 'As a result of our work, we discovered that there was a corridor leading into the bath, and that the bath had a reception area, followed by a zigzagging corridor and washrooms arranged parallel to it. We also found two water reservoirs for cold and warm water right behind the washrooms. The bath was heated through an underfloor heating system, which was well-preserved. Additionally, we encountered other surprises; the walls of the structure had a fine plaster and decorations applied using a technique called 'grafito.' We also found drawings related to maritime activities, including ships, boats, fish, and fishing nets. This indicates that those visiting the bath were engaged in maritime trade and fishing.' Taşkıran also mentioned that as a result of the excavation, they encountered various artifacts, including coins, metal objects, weaponry, ceramics, and lamps, all dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Taşkıran stated that restoration and conservation work on the bath is ongoing, adding, 'The significance of the bath lies in the fact that after the region came under Turkish-Islamic rule in the 13th century, we didn't have much information about urbanization here. This finding is extremely important as it highlights the significance of urban development in this area and represents one of the rare structures of this plan type.' Taşkıran expressed that during the excavation, they found that the Roman bath was utilized by the Turks who arrived in the region during the Turkish-Islamic period, leading to the construction of an additional bath within it. He emphasized that this demonstrates the cultural continuity of Turkish-Islamic heritage in the bath. Taşkıran stated that no damage was done to the existing bath, and that additions were made without tearing down any walls or undergoing repairs. He noted, 'During our excavation of the bath's floor, we observed the original Roman flooring. The Roman floor is adorned with baked clay mosaics, which remain intact and undamaged. This clearly shows that the Muslim Turks who came here in the 13th and 14th centuries reflected Anatolian wisdom in this space. It beautifully exemplifies our ancestors' perspective on these places and the civilization they established.'