Drought reveals 1,600-year-old hidden port city in Turkey

Droughts are typically bad news, as they can put a strain on a country's people, economy, and infrastructure. But archaeologists are now calling a 2007 drought in Turkey a blessing, after it revealed a piece of history that will yield new information about the country's roots for decades to come.

As lack of rain caused the waters of Turkey's Lake Kucukcekmece to slowly pull away from its shore, the ancient harbor town of Bathonea revealed itself. The ruins of buildings, roads, and a sea wall are thought to date back as far as the 2nd century BC, meaning it would have been a thriving community at a time when Byzantium — now Istanbul — was a sprawling metropolis. 

The area has already produced a plethora of cultural and religious artifacts including coins, decorative bricks, and pottery that was popular during the time it is believe to have been populated. The lake itself is attached to the Sea of Marmara, making it a perfect place for a busy port. Using sonar, researchers have discovered what they believe to be the remains of several iron anchors from the Byzantine era, meaning the port was in use until at least the 4th century, and perhaps later. 

Bathonea is so large that it has taken this long to sort out the huge amount of ancient evidence on hand, and there are still massive underground structures that remain untouched. The archeologists investigating the site have a seemingly endless amount of work on their hands, but with each passing year, the mystery behind the historic port city gets a little more clear.

[Image credit: Rezzan]

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