Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Pompeiopolis in Türkiye’s Kastamonu Province are uncovering spectacular mosaics from an 1,800-year-old Roman villa believed to be one of the three largest Roman villas in Anatolia.
The excavation is taking place in the Taşköprü district under the direction of Associate Professor Dr Mevlüt Eliüşük of Karabük University’s Department of Archaeology, on behalf of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
This year’s work is centred on exposing and conserving the villa’s elaborate floor mosaics after excavations resumed at the site last year. Covering approximately 3,000 square metres, the sprawling residence is regarded as one of the most significant Roman villas discovered in Anatolia.
Archaeological teams are carefully lifting, cleaning and restoring the intricate mosaics piece by piece in an effort to preserve them before further deterioration occurs. Officials warn that without continued conservation, some sections of the mosaics could be lost within a few years.
Experts say the craftsmanship of the mosaics rivals that of the famous Roman mosaics at Zeugma, one of Türkiye’s most celebrated archaeological sites. Restoration and rescue work began last year, with the aim of uncovering a substantial portion of the villa’s decorative floors and eventually opening them to visitors.
Excavations at Pompeiopolis have been ongoing for 25 years and resumed for the current season with a team of 45 specialists, including 15 archaeologists from Italy working alongside their Turkish counterparts.
Restoration and Excavation
Dr Eliüşük said the 2026 excavation programme focuses on both archaeological excavation and restoration.
“Our work continues at the Roman villa where we began restoring the floor mosaics in previous years,” he said. “With an area of approximately 3,000 square metres, it is considered one of the three largest Roman villas in Anatolia.”
Restoration efforts are currently concentrated on the villa’s 112-square-metre triclinium, or formal dining room, where guests would have been entertained. Around 10 square metres of mosaic restoration were completed in 2025, with work continuing throughout a planned four-month campaign in 2026.
Boosting Regional Tourism
Beyond its archaeological significance, researchers believe the Roman villa could become a major cultural tourism attraction for northern Türkiye.
“We are also creating the infrastructure for tourism,” Dr Eliüşük said. “One of our goals is to add a new destination to the tourism network of Kastamonu, Anatolia and the Black Sea region.”
Excavations at the villa first began in 2006, but researchers believe only part of the complex has been revealed.
“Although we currently estimate the villa covers around 3,000 square metres, there is evidence suggesting it could be even larger,” Dr Eliüşük explained. “No villa of this scale has previously been identified in northern Anatolia or the western Black Sea region. We believe it most likely belonged to a member of the Roman ruling elite.”
He added that the exceptional quality of the mosaics further highlights the villa’s importance.
“When we examine the workmanship, we find mosaics comparable in quality to those at Zeugma and other major ancient cities of Anatolia. This greatly increases the significance of the site.”
Four Centuries of Roman History
Researchers estimate the villa was constructed during the 2nd century AD and remained in use until the 6th century, providing an uninterrupted archaeological record spanning approximately 400 years.
“The building offers invaluable evidence for understanding both the history of Pompeiopolis and the broader historical development of the region,” Dr Eliüşük said.
The excavation project is funded by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, with additional support from principal sponsor Acacia Mining, the Kastamonu Governorship, the Taşköprü District Governorship and Taşköprü Municipality.
Thanks to this support, excavations are expected to continue until the end of October, although the timetable may be adjusted depending on future funding.
Sources : Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism
