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Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Aspendos in southern Türkiye have uncovered a roughly 300-meter (984.25 feet) stretch of a 2,000-year-old road that once connected the site's Roman theater to its acropolis, excavation officials announced.
The discovery was made in Antalya's Serik district, where Aspendos, one of the most significant ancient cities of the historical region of Pamphylia, has drawn visitors for decades primarily for its well-preserved theater and its ancient aqueduct system. The site lies near the village of Belkis, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of the coastal city of Antalya, a major Mediterranean tourist hub.
Excavations at the site have been underway since 2022 under the direction of Associate Professor Mustafa Bilgin of Afyon Kocatepe University, and work has accelerated under Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Heritage for the Future Project.
Bilgin, who leads the excavation, said the newly revealed roadway, referred to as the "theater street," was one of the busiest urban transportation routes in Aspendos during antiquity.
Along its length, archaeologists have uncovered public buildings, civilian residences and a monumental gate, in addition to a well-preserved bread oven that offers insight into daily life and architecture in the ancient period.
"We have uncovered a section of about 300 meters. Our visitors will now be able to follow an ancient road from the theater up to the acropolis," Bilgin said, adding that two years of work on the street are nearing completion.
Once fully cleared, the route will allow visitors to walk directly from the ancient theater to the acropolis along the original road, adding a new dimension to a site historically known mainly for its performance venue and water-supply structures.
Bilgin said the acropolis itself contains monumental structures that will offer visitors an experience distinct from the theater.
The team also identified an eastern necropolis located outside the city's eastern wall gate. A tomb dating to the Classical Period was found at the site, indicating that the area had been used as a burial ground since the late fifth century B.C.
Excavations at the city's Eastern Square uncovered the remains of a structure containing mosaic flooring. Bilgin noted that the engineering features of the street itself stood out, saying its width varies between 3 and 5 meters and that a sewage system roughly 1 meter deep runs beneath it.
He said the placement of stone paving in line with the slope of the terrain had prevented ground shifting despite earthquakes over the centuries.
The excavation has also produced findings related to Aspendos' commercial history. Two-story shops and a stoa complex yielded a Phoenician coin along with glass perfume containers specific to the region, according to Bilgin.
He said the items point to trade relations between Aspendos and Eastern Mediterranean regions such as Syria and Palestine.
The bread oven uncovered along the route, Bilgin added, provides further evidence about everyday life and architectural practices in the ancient city.
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