A 1700-year-old Roman bath and ancient church were discovered in Dülük Antique City in Gaziantep. Researchers from the University of Münster said that the structures discovered date to the 2nd or 3rd century AD.
Excavator and archaeologist Engelbert Winter emphasized the importance of discovering the basilica adorned with precious mosaics and the research which is ongoing since 2001 shed light on a certain period of history.
“The residents of the city had to leave here because of war and economic crisis and this place has become inhabited since the 4th century. With the spread of Christianity, a church was established in the city and became the see of the bishop of the region of Dolike, named after the Roman God, Jupiter Dolichenus” Winter said.
A region that sheds light on the history
Excavation chief Winter said “Dolike, is an ideal city for the examination in terms of faith, political and cultural development in the ancient Syria.
Winter said that the three-corridor church which was discovered offers a very important chance for archaeologists, because very few in-house churches were being researched in the region, which is so important for the early periods of Christianity.
As a result of the excavations carried out in the region this year, many additional buildings were discovered near the church building. The excavation chief said that the findings indicate that the church area is much wider than expected. “The discovery of new structures promises very new information in the field of faith about the late antique period in the north Syria” Winter said.
Winter added that according to the findings, in the 7th century as a result of an earthquake the city is destroyed and the city residents left the city in the 12th century.
Scientists from the Center for Anatolian Studies at the University of Münster have been conducting their research under the “Faith and Politics Project” since the early 2000s. The German Research Association (DFG) also supports the project. Researchers presented their findings which they found until 2016 to the public. The findings will shed light on the region’s 2,000-year history.
