Animal figures discovered in floor mosaic found by chance in Elazığ

Excavation work is continuing in the Salkaya village in the city center, which began after Mehmet Emin Sualp, who was digging a hole to plant a cherry sapling in his field last August, noticed a colorful and patterned structure under the soil and reported it to the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum Directorate.

During the ongoing work on the floor mosaic, which is believed to date back to the early Byzantine or Roman period and is estimated to be approximately 84 square meters, it was determined that animals such as the Anatolian leopard, wolf, pig, ibex, deer, greyhound, and pheasant were depicted.

In new excavations conducted around the mosaic, various wall remains and structures, estimated to have been used as a church and a winery, were also unearthed.

"WE WILL PREPARE THIS HISTORICAL ARTIFACT TO BE EXHIBITED IN ELAZIĞ"

Governor Numan Hatipoğlu inspected the site and received information from the Elazığ Archaeology and Ethnography Museum Director Ziya Kılınç and the Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Ahmet Demirdağ.

Speaking to reporters, Hatipoğlu stated that the floor mosaic is very valuable from a historical perspective.

Hatipoğlu said, "A citizen of ours encountered these remains while planting a cherry sapling in his field. Afterward, he notified our museum. As a result of the excavations we conducted here, one of the largest mosaic pieces in the region has been revealed. It is a massive, single-piece work, approximately 84 square meters in size, depicting the wildlife of the region. Animals such as the Anatolian leopard, wolf, pig, ibex, deer, and greyhound are depicted on the floor mosaics."

Expressing that he congratulates the citizen who was instrumental in the discovery of this historical mosaic, Hatipoğlu noted that the Elazığ Museum Directorate has also brought a beautiful artifact to light through its excavation work.

Stating that further excavation work can be carried out in the area when necessary, Hatipoğlu said:

"As a result of our work, if a sufficient number of historical artifacts suitable for exhibition are unearthed in the region, we will develop a different strategy regarding this place. If not, we will prepare this historical artifact, which you can see here as of now, to be exhibited in our Elazığ city center."

Pointing out that in addition to animal figures, there are also figures related to the region's tree texture in the mosaic, Hatipoğlu stated that the mosaic structure is considered to belong to a period that can be called the Roman and early Byzantine period.

Mehmet Emin Sualp, who noticed the mosaic structure while digging a hole to plant a sapling in his field, also expressed his happiness at being instrumental in bringing such an important historical structure to light.

Explaining that he contributes to the work carried out by the excavation team in the area, Sualp said:

"I bought this field in 2020. I came across this mosaic while planting trees in my field last year. I later widened the base by about half a square meter and realized it was a floor mosaic. I reported the situation to our Museum Directorate. The process developed in this way. The excavations are continuing."