Four Roman-Era Tombs Unearthed at Sillyon Ancient City in Antalya: Three Individuals, Three Periods

Excavations at Sillyon Ancient City in Serik, Antalya have revealed four tombs dating back to the Roman period. Established on a high hill for security reasons in the early 2nd millennium BCE, Sillyon hosts structures from the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman eras.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Taşkıran, head of the Sillyon Excavation and faculty member at Pamukkale University, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that one of the Roman tombs discovered this season is particularly unique. The tomb, classified as a chamber-type structure, is square in plan with the burial placed at its center.

“In this tomb, we identified burials of three individuals from three different periods,” Taşkıran explained. “The first burial dates to an earlier period, followed by a second individual whose remains partially replaced the first, and finally a third person was interred. Jewelry, hairpins, and coins found inside allowed us to date the tomb to the late 2nd century CE.”

The team also uncovered terracotta items, glass artifacts, figurines, and metal objects. Taşkıran emphasized that this tomb offers crucial insights into local burial rituals and suggests the interred individuals were likely prominent members of Sillyon society.

Conservation and restoration work has preserved the tomb in its current state, highlighting an important structure that sheds new light on the history of Sillyon. Researchers note that the site promises to provide fresh perspectives on Roman-era tomb typologies, personal adornments, and funerary practices in the region.