Archaeological excavations in Diyarbakır change the history of the church where 124 graves were identified

Following the discovery of a bronze cross during surface surveys in different areas of the İnkaya District, excavations initiated in the region by the Diyarbakır Museum Directorate in 2021 are being carried out this season by a team of 17 experts and 30 workers.

Despite the sweltering heat, teams are tracing history in the church ruins that were unearthed in 2022.

While 124 graves have been identified so far during the excavations carried out in the church ruins, 30 inventory-worthy and 100 study-worthy artifacts such as starfish fossils, columns and lamps have been found.

The church, which was previously estimated to be 1500 years old due to the discovery of a coin from the period of Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I, is estimated to have been built between 337-361, based on the discovery of a coin from the period of Roman Emperor Constantius II.

Diyarbakır Museum Deputy Director Müjdat Gizligöl told an AA correspondent that they had begun work in the field in 2021 and in the church in 2022, adding that they had been carrying out intensive work in the church area for the last three years.

Gizligöl pointed out that some of the 30 inventories and 100 studies found so far are important in terms of dating the church, saying, "We previously found a coin dating back to the reign of Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I. Based on this, we assumed the church was approximately 1,500 years old. The discovery of a coin dating back to the reign of Roman Emperor Constantius II led to a change in the church's dating. We now estimate that the church here is approximately 1,700 years old. Excavations may push this date back even further."

Gizligöl stated that, based on the findings, they estimated that a settlement was established in the region during the Roman Period in the 3rd or 4th century and that the church was built during that period, and that they also encountered many graves in the church.

Gizligöl said, "After the church was damaged during the process, its surrounding area and interior were used as a cemetery. So far, we have found the skeletons of 170 individuals in 124 graves in the church. These include babies, children, women, and men. Some were buried in scattered, isolated graves and in stone cists. A severely damaged sarcophagus was also found."

Gizligöl, who explained that they had approximately uncovered the plan of the church during this year's excavations, said that excavations are currently continuing on the walls surrounding the church.

Gizligöl stated that work is continuing to completely uncover the foundation and walls of the church, adding:

"We didn't know that the Byzantine Empire reached east of the Euphrates. Both the existence of the church here and the findings are important because they show us that the Byzantine Empire existed beyond the Euphrates, remained here for many years, and created an advanced civilization. The excavations are proving very productive for us."