Excavations to resume at ancient Rhodiapolis in Antalya

Excavations at the ancient city of Rhodiapolis, nestled in the Kumluca district of Antalya, are expected to restart in the coming year following a temporary suspension. Kumluca District Governor Bahadır Güneş, who recently toured the site with a delegation, described Rhodiapolis as "a window to history" for the district, emphasising the cultural significance of the planned archaeological renewal.

Preparatory work under way

A significant portion of the ancient settlement has already been unearthed through earlier digs, according to Güneş, who noted that the resumption marks an important step for local heritage preservation. Archaeologist Beste Tomay from Adıyaman University, who serves as an adviser to the project, confirmed that preparatory activities—including field surveys, reviews of past excavations, and inventory checks of stored artefacts—are being conducted throughout this year to ensure a smooth restart.

Rich historical layers

Tomay explained that Rhodiapolis holds a distinguished place among the ancient cities of Lycia, a historic region spanning parts of modern-day southwestern Türkiye. The site boasts remains from both the Lycian and Byzantine periods, featuring a theatre, baths, an agora, temples, a church, cisterns, and monumental tombs. "Starting next year, we will resume excavations under the coordination of the excavation directorate," she stated, adding that fully revealing the ancient city would make a substantial contribution to Kumluca's historical and cultural landscape.