Ancient Hadrianopolis Palace Reveals Rare Mosaics in Türkiye

(MENAFN) Archaeological excavations in the historic city of Hadrianopolis, located in the Turkish Black Sea province of Karabuk, have brought to light a reception hall dating back to the fourth century AD, adorned with uncommon mosaic designs, scholars announced on Wednesday.

The excavation, led by archaeologist Ersin Celikbas from Karabuk University, was conducted this year under the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Heritage for the Future Project in Eskipazar.

Researchers concentrated on the inner citadel of the site, where they uncovered a spacious chamber featuring a mosaic-covered floor.

“We identified this room as a reception hall, indicating it belonged to a palace complex at Hadrianopolis,” Celikbas informed reporters, describing the discovery as “highly significant” for both Black Sea and Anatolian archaeology.

The mosaics display intricate designs including peacocks drinking from a fountain, geometric shapes, ribbon motifs, an eight-pointed star, and patterns not previously documented in scholarly works. Remarkably, nearly 80% of the mosaic surface remains well-preserved.

Although some human figures were also present, most were heavily damaged. Celikbas added that excavation efforts will resume in 2026 to explore additional parts of the palace complex.

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