Uncovered in illegal excavation: Shedding light on the Roman period

Home to many civilizations, starting with the Hittites and Phrygians, Tokat stands out as one of the most established cities in Anatolia with its 900 thousand years of settlement history.

Excavations in some areas of the city have unearthed artifacts dating back thousands of years. The mosaic recently unearthed in Zile has also emerged as a significant find dating back to the Roman period. According to expert assessments, the green, yellow, blue, and white inlays used on the mosaic, along with the phrases "abundance, abundance, prosperity, and peace" in the inscription, suggest that this area was a public structure. The fact that the mosaic, discovered during the salvage excavation, was covered with an awning and tarpaulin did not go unnoticed.

Providing information about the mosaic, archaeologist Halis Alıcı, an officer at the Yağıbasan Madrasa Turkish Islamic History of Science Museum, said the following:

"Whether it's Erbaa Horoztepe or Maşat Höyük, we've found remains dating back thousands of years in our excavations there. When we consider this later, and the mosaic unearthed in Zile as a result of illegal excavations, it again offers a compelling reference to the Roman period."

"In Rome, we see these types of mosaics in all of what we might call public spaces today, such as military recruitment centers, health facilities, certain facilities where politicians gathered, localities, as well as markets, squares, and bazaars frequently used by the public. We also see these types of mosaics in the reception rooms of some important figures, state palaces, or the palaces of important senators and commanders."