In Tekirdag, excavations continue in the "City of Hera"

During the excavations in Karaevli Neighbourhood, items belonging to the daily life of the Thracian civilisation, graves and various artefacts are unearthed in the "City of Hera", which hosted different civilisations.

Istanbul Rumeli University Archaeological Research Office Coordinator and Head of Excavation Prof. Dr. Neşe Atik, AA correspondent, said that the excavation works that started in 2000 in the ancient city of Hera's City continue in health and cult centres.

Emphasising that Türkiye is the cradle of civilisations, Atik noted that the origins of Thracians, who had a great civilisation, are still being researched.

Explaining that there are archaeological projects to bring the city to tourism, Atik said, "We will share the finds we have unearthed from the excavation site with our people and the world. In the promotional building with digital narrations, visitors will be told about the life of Thracians, their lives and what was excavated from the excavation site."

Atik also stated that the excavations will continue until the end of the year.

About the Ancient City of Hera

According to the information obtained from Tekirdağ Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the ancient settlement, which is 10 kilometres away from Tekirdağ, was inhabited from 2000 BC to the end of the 1200s AD.

The excavations to date have yielded stone hand axes and handmade terracotta pots.

The excavations carried out in the acropolis of the mound-shaped settlement brought to light cultural layers from the 6th century BC to the 1st century AD.

It is known that many colonists from Samos (Samos) Island settled in the city in the 8th century BC.

The sling stones found in the settlement were revealed to be weapons dating back to the Persian invasion in the 6th century BC.

Black and red figured vessels and Kerch vases were found to document relations with Greece and especially the Attica Peninsula in the 5th and 4th centuries BC.

Bronze arrowheads, stamped amphora handles and Hellenic coins also point to the city's commercial relations with Greece and the Aegean islands during the classical and Hellenistic periods as a harbour city.