Ankara: A nearly 2,000-year-old road connecting an ancient theater and acropolis has been unearthed in the ancient city of Aspendos in Antalya, in the Mediterranean region of the Turkish Riviera.

According to Anadolu Agency, excavations at Aspendos, one of the most important ancient cities of the coastal Pamphylia region, have been carried out since 2022 under the leadership of Mustafa Bilgin, an archaeologist at Afyon Kocatepe University. The project has gained new momentum under the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry's Heritage for the Future Project, revealing about 300 meters (nearly 1,000 feet) of the ancient road linking the theater to the acropolis. Significant discoveries include a well-preserved bakery, public buildings, residential houses, a monumental gate, and advanced infrastructure systems.

Speaking to Anadolu, Bilgin noted that Aspendos, long known for its theater and aqueducts, will now offer visitors a new experience through its monumental structures located on the acropolis. He mentioned that work on Theater Street is nearing completion after two years of excavations. "Visitors will now be able to walk from the theater to the acropolis through an ancient road. In antiquity, this was one of Aspendos' busiest urban transportation arteries. Along the street, we have largely uncovered public buildings, residential houses, and a monumental gate," Bilgin stated.

Bilgin also reported the identification of the eastern necropolis of the ancient city outside the eastern city gate, with a classical era tomb discovered there indicating the area's use as a cemetery since the late fifth century BC.

The excavations in the Eastern Square uncovered the remains of a mosaic building and highlighted the engineering features of the street. Bilgin explained, "The street varies between 3 and 5 meters (10-16 feet) wide. We also identified a sewage system about 1 meter (3.28 ft) deep beneath the road. Thanks to the way the stone paving was laid in accordance with the slope, the surface has not shifted, despite earthquakes."

The findings also provided insights into Aspendos' commercial life, including a Phoenician coin and locally produced glass perfume bottles discovered in two-story shops and a stoa (covered walkway) complex. These discoveries demonstrate Aspendos' commercial ties with the Eastern Mediterranean, including ancient Syria and Palestine, while the unearthed bakery offers important insights into daily life and architecture during antiquity.