Farmer Mehmet Emin Sualp, while planting seedlings in his field in the village of Salkaya, unexpectedly stumbled upon an ancient mosaic floor measuring 84 square meters. Remarkably, it is well-preserved. The discovery site is located near the city of Elazig in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey.
This mosaic, depicting dozens of animals, trees, and plants, is the first of its kind found in the country.
When the farmer saw the patterned mosaic floor, he realized he had uncovered something extraordinary. He reported his discovery to the police and the city museum’s directorate in Elazig. Archaeologists arrived on the scene to begin cleaning and studying the mosaic. Experts believe this luxurious artifact dates back to ancient Roman or early Byzantine times. Researchers will clarify its origins soon. Currently, excavations at the archaeological site are being conducted, initiated by the Elazig museum’s directorate with the support of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Researchers observed various animal figures on the mosaic floor, including a lion, mountain goat, duck, hound, deer, pheasant, pig, bear, goose, leopard, as well as images of birds and different species of trees and plants. Almost simultaneously with the mosaic discovery, an ancient church and a wine cellar were unearthed in the region, as reported by Arkeonews.
Numan Hatipoglu, the governor of Elazig, who inspected the archaeological site, was thrilled by the mosaic. The official thanked the farmer for finding the relic and expressed his willingness to conduct further excavations in the region. The governor believes that such amazing artifacts should be prepared for display, as they deserve to be seen by as many people as possible.