A medieval toilet estimated to be 700 years old has been uncovered in archaeological excavations conducted at the ancient city of Korykos in Mersin.
Korykos Ancient City is an important archaeological site located in the Erdemli district of Mersin, in southern Türkiye, and it has a rich history. It was established in the mountainous region of Cilicia, situated between the Göksu and Lamos rivers.
It is believed that Korykos was founded in the 4th century BC by a Cypriot prince named Korykos (Gorgos).
Archaeological excavations in the city are being conducted by a 15-member team led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şener Yıldırım, a faculty member of the Department of Art History at Mersin University.
In the previous excavation season, a church structure was uncovered in Korykos, and this year a medieval toilet was found.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şener Yıldırım, who noted that Korykos’s history dates back to the Hellenistic Period, stated, “It continued to exist during the Roman and Byzantine periods. With the onset of Arab invasions, there is an increase in defensive structures. Ancient sources mention the construction of a fortress here in the 8th century. Over time, the fortress has suffered some damage.”
Yıldırım added that the data obtained from the excavations will allow for population estimates. “With the increasing number of residential units in ongoing studies, we will be able to estimate the population in the coming years. In addition to living units, we also have studies related to the city walls. This year, we uncovered a structure at the base of the wall, and interestingly, we found that it was a toilet. It is a medieval toilet built right on top of the wall. The establishment of the ancient city has a history of approximately 2,200 years, while the initial construction phase of the fortress is about 1,000 years old.”
Cover Photo: Hüseyin Hilmi Çömez/AA
