1,500-Year-Old Structure Yields Previously Hidden Rooms, Ancient Paintings, and a Roman Era Channel to Nowhere

Archaeologists in Izmir uncovered three previously hidden rooms, a 1,500-year-old Late Antiquity theater, and a Roman-era water channel that hasn't reached any natural springs. The new excavations, conducted in the historic center of Smyrna, revealed three new spaces, two with mosaic floors and one with a marble floor. The team also found ancient wall paintings around the Agora and the theater. These discoveries suggest the site was used for public functions and date back to the fifth to sixth centuries A.D. The water channel, which carried water for 2,000 years, is believed to have stopped before reaching springs. The findings offer new insights into the city's transformation from Roman influence.

• The new rooms were discovered in an area with an ancient mosaic floor.
• The theater area was identified during the excavations.
• The Roman-era water channel was traced and its source is still unknown.

The discoveries highlight the site's historical significance and its potential to provide new information about the region's past. The findings were made by Izmir Katip Celebi University and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The research team noted that the structures share features with the Terrace Houses at Ephesus, suggesting possible public use. Future excavations aim to uncover more about the ancient spring and other hidden elements.

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