After an immense undertaking that saw the removal of approximately 3,000 tons of debris, archaeologists have successfully opened up previously inaccessible ancient tunnels beneath Istanbul’s historic Hagia Sophia. Uncovered by archaeologist Hasan Fırat Diker, these Roman-era tunnels, estimated to be around 1,600 years old, were originally part of the city’s sophisticated water distribution and drainage network and also served as protected underground spaces. Some of these structures even predate the current Hagia Sophia, which was completed in 537 A.D., offering a unique glimpse into the layers of history beneath one of the world’s most significant landmarks. Researchers have cleared nearly 558 feet of an underground route connected to a fifth-century Roman street, and have also excavated an additional five feet beneath an ancient underground burial complex discovered in 1946, which had accumulated centuries of mud. This meticulous work, likened by Diker to exploring a modern subway system, aims to shed new light on the intricate engineering and hidden past of the site, with plans underway to potentially open sections of these historic tunnels to the public and host an exhibition of the archaeological findings.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
