Excavation peels back layers of Roman, Byzantine history in southeastern Türkiye

MARDIN / ANKARA, 12 January (BelTA - Anadolu) - Exciting archaeological excavations have begun at Rabat Castle in Mardin, southeastern Türkiye, uncovering historical remains dating back some 2,000 years, officials and scholars said.

Located in the village of Hisaralti in the Derik district, the ancient fortress spans 5.5 hectares and sits at an elevation of 955 meters (3,133 feet).

It is believed to have been built during the Late Roman Era to protect trade caravans and defend the region from Sasanian incursions, referring to a Persian empire.

With permission from the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the excavation is being conducted by Mardin Museum Director Idris Akgul, alongside archaeologists Mehmet San and Erkan Guzel.

Due to the lack of vehicle access, the team has to hike about one-and-a-half hours to reach the site.

Once there, they work carefully around the castle's watchtowers, fortifications, churches, altars, rock tombs, residential structures, and water channels.

“This is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites after the ancient city of Dara,” said Akgul.

“We struck the first shovel this year at an architectural structure believed to be a chapel.”

Akgul said the earliest documentation of the site was by travelers and researchers in 1866.

“Their records confirmed that the churches, cisterns, and other features were well-preserved,” he added.

“We identified ceramic fragments from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Artuqid periods.

This allows us to say with confidence that the castle was in use throughout those eras,” he said. “We also unearthed arrowheads and coins, which are important for historical documentation.”

Churches, chapels, cisterns, houses

He said the team plans to continue excavations at the larger church known locally as the Rabat Church, following current work at a smaller chapel carved into the rock.

Situated at a strategic point overlooking the Mesopotamian Plain, the castle likely guarded the region between modern-day Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa’s Viransehir district.

“The western section of the fortress features large defensive walls and moats, while the upper city contains churches, chapels, cisterns, and dwellings,” said Akgul. “Given its position on an ancient route, the castle served both defensive and commercial purposes.”

The excavation team hopes to restore and showcase the well-preserved structures to create a new cultural tourism route in the region.

Akgul added that they aim to extend the excavations throughout the year under the Ministry’s Heritage for the Future project.

“As the work progresses, we will shed light on the area’s past,” he said.

Local Rohan Ates, who is also part of the dig team, voiced excitement about the findings.

“We start our journey in the morning, walking one-an-a-half hours to reach the castle,” he said.

“It has a history of about 2,000 years. We want it to be opened to tourism so everyone can see it,” he said. “I’m sure even more beautiful structures will emerge as the excavation continues.”

“Our elders used to talk about this place, but we didn’t know its history went back so far,” he added. “We’re proud to be part of this. I hope it will become a shining star of the region.”