Ancient Hytos Harbor Emerges as Sea Recedes in the Gulf of Erdek

A rare coastal retreat has revealed the submerged structures of one of Kyzikos’ key ancient ports, offering a brief look into the maritime power of the Propontis.

An unusual drop in sea level along the Düzler coastline in Erdek, western Türkiye, has exposed the long-hidden remains of the Hytos Ancient Harbor—a crucial maritime hub of the ancient city of Kyzikos. Over the past few days, the shoreline has retreated by nearly 20 to 30 meters, revealing linear stone structures and sandy islets that normally lie fully submerged.

Drone recordings show the contours of the harbor with striking clarity, drawing visitors and photographers to the area. What appears at first glance like an archaeological excavation is, in reality, a sudden window into a port system that once linked the Sea of Marmara to long-distance commercial networks stretching toward the Aegean and the Mediterranean.

Experts say the phenomenon is natural

Specialists caution that this dramatic exposure is not tied to tectonic activity. Instead, it is a meteorological event, often triggered when winds blow consistently in the same direction over several days. Similar fluctuations have occasionally been documented along the Erdek and Edincik coasts.

A strategic harbor of Kyzikos comes into view

Hytos Harbor played a significant logistic role for ancient Kyzikos, a prosperous city that controlled key points along the north–south and east–west maritime corridors of the region. Positioned near the approaches to the Dardanelles, the port served as a gateway for commodities moving between the Propontis, the Aegean world, and the wider Mediterranean basin.

Although usually hidden beneath the shallow coastal waters, the harbor’s stone alignments demonstrate the engineering precision of ancient maritime infrastructure. For a short period, the modern shoreline is offering an unfiltered look at one of the ports that helped elevate Kyzikos into a regional commercial powerhouse.

Cover Image: Aerial view of the submerged remains of the Hytos Ancient Harbor revealed after the sea level receded along the Düzler coast in Erdek. Source: IHA.