A Newly Uncovered 1,500-Year-Old Roman Dwelling Sheds Light on Daily Life in Ancient Commagene’s City of Perre

The 2025 excavation season at Perre has revealed one of the most informative architectural discoveries yet: a 1,500-year-old domestic complex built during the late Roman occupation of the ancient Commagene region. The find delivers a rare, ground-level view of how households functioned in a city positioned at a vital crossroads of trade and military movement.

A well-planned living space beside the basilica

Archaeologists working under the Adıyaman Museum Directorate identified a 154-square-meter residential unit neighboring the basilica known for the celebrated “Cennet Mosaic.” The structure includes a tandır hearth at its center and two adjoining rooms, elements that together point to a fully active domestic environment rather than a temporary shelter or auxiliary space.

According to Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Mehmet Yelken, the architecture and objects retrieved so far paint a cohesive picture of late Roman household routines.
“Coins, bronze items, and everyday utensils clearly indicate continuous use,” he noted. “The tandır is especially important—it signals food preparation and a living rhythm typical of a settled residential quarter.”

A city shaped by movement — and still delivering archaeological depth

Perre’s historical role as a junction on key ancient routes continues to influence what emerges from the soil. Its position between commercial and military corridors once made it a hub for travelers and detachments moving across Commagene. That strategic geography is reflected in the variety of materials uncovered throughout the site.

The newly exposed dwelling joins earlier discoveries such as Roman water systems, stone-built structures, and architectural fragments that map the city’s evolving urban layout. With each season, Perre is presenting a clearer picture of how life was organized at the intersection of frontier politics, regional trade, and local traditions.

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