STOP ME, IF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE
A Farmer Was Working In His Field—and Found a 1,700-Year-Old Roman Mosaic
It stretches 900-square feet in size.
By Tim Newcomb
Jan 20, 2025
Popular Mechanics
Popular Mechanics
kolderal//Getty Images
A farmer discovered a 900-square-foot mosaic from the third century in his field in Turkey.
Covered by a thin layer of soil, the artwork depicts a variety of hunting scenes from the Roman era.
A charred wooden roof that fell atop the tiles hundreds of years ago may have preserved the artwork.
Hidden under less than 20 inches of soil on a farmer’s field in Turkey, there lay a colorful mosaic depicting a host of captivating hunting scenes from the Roman era. The 1,700-year-old tiles include images of the now-critically endangered Anatolian leopard biting the neck of an ostrich, a lion chasing a mountain goat, a bear pursuing a stag, and so much more.
And the discovery of this ancient art comes thanks to, or all things, a cherry tree sapling.
The farmer who owns this field not only found the surprisingly well-preserved tiles while planning a cherry tree orchard—he likely uncovered an entire previously unknown settlement from at least the late third century A.D., Emily Cayir, lead archaeologist from the state Archaeology and Ethnography Museum of Elazig, told The Art Newspaper.
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Locating additional stone buildings certainly bring dimension to the site, but it’s the roughly 900-square-foot colorful mosaic that most intrigues experts. The tiles were likely kept in good condition by a charred wooden roof, which would have fallen on the artwork at some point hundreds of years ago. Cayir said that the discovery is likely the largest of its kind ever found in Turkey—with a portrayal of animals instead of patterns or mythological designs—and certainly the first to survive as a whole.
Along with the lion, bear, and Anatolian leopard, the fanciful tiles also show greyhounds approaching a wild boar and pheasants, ducks, geese, and partridges standing near rose bushes and pomegranate trees—all part of “an expression of the eternal cycle of nature,” Cayir said. “The lion and bear,” she continued, “represent authority in Roman tradition, and the depiction of hunting dogs reminds us that humans are part of the food chain, [showing how] the craftsmen used metaphor to convey these ideas.”
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The artwork also features flowers to help transition between the scenes. Cayir said the shading used across the mosaic—from highlighting the animals engaged in hunting movements to the details on the flowers—shows that the creator of the artwork was very highly skilled. Coins dating to the early Byzantine period help date the mosaic to roughly 1,700 years ago, but ceramic remnants show that the site was in use before then as well.
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Locating additional stone buildings certainly bring dimension to the site, but it’s the roughly 900-square-foot colorful mosaic that most intrigues experts. The tiles were likely kept in good condition by a charred wooden roof, which would have fallen on the artwork at some point hundreds of years ago. Cayir said that the discovery is likely the largest of its kind ever found in Turkey—with a portrayal of animals instead of patterns or mythological designs—and certainly the first to survive as a whole.
Along with the lion, bear, and Anatolian leopard, the fanciful tiles also show greyhounds approaching a wild boar and pheasants, ducks, geese, and partridges standing near rose bushes and pomegranate trees—all part of “an expression of the eternal cycle of nature,” Cayir said. “The lion and bear,” she continued, “represent authority in Roman tradition, and the depiction of hunting dogs reminds us that humans are part of the food chain, [showing how] the craftsmen used metaphor to convey these ideas.”
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
The artwork also features flowers to help transition between the scenes. Cayir said the shading used across the mosaic—from highlighting the animals engaged in hunting movements to the details on the flowers—shows that the creator of the artwork was very highly skilled. Coins dating to the early Byzantine period help date the mosaic to roughly 1,700 years ago, but ceramic remnants show that the site was in use before then as well.
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According to The Art Newspaper, Cayir said that the settlement could have been anything from a farming town to a Roman outpost, but whoever controlled the site displayed “an expression of power” through the artwork. She also claimed that the tiles likely once adorned a reception room or dining hall in the residence of an established Roman official.
Across the site, the team has also located a basalt road, irrigation channel, and a building that could have served as a winemaker’s press. They intend to continue searching.
The future of the mosaic remains unknown. Officials hope to preserve it, whether that means constructing a way to protect it without disturbing it, or moving the entire mosaic to a museum. For now, covered for winter, experts can only marvel at ancient hunting scenes that had been just inches below the surface for roughly 1,700 years.
Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. He covers stadiums, sneakers, gear, infrastructure, and more for a variety of publications, including Popular Mechanics. His favorite interviews have included sit-downs with Roger Federer in Switzerland, Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, and Tinker Hatfield in Portland.
According to The Art Newspaper, Cayir said that the settlement could have been anything from a farming town to a Roman outpost, but whoever controlled the site displayed “an expression of power” through the artwork. She also claimed that the tiles likely once adorned a reception room or dining hall in the residence of an established Roman official.
Across the site, the team has also located a basalt road, irrigation channel, and a building that could have served as a winemaker’s press. They intend to continue searching.
The future of the mosaic remains unknown. Officials hope to preserve it, whether that means constructing a way to protect it without disturbing it, or moving the entire mosaic to a museum. For now, covered for winter, experts can only marvel at ancient hunting scenes that had been just inches below the surface for roughly 1,700 years.
Tim Newcomb is a journalist based in the Pacific Northwest. He covers stadiums, sneakers, gear, infrastructure, and more for a variety of publications, including Popular Mechanics. His favorite interviews have included sit-downs with Roger Federer in Switzerland, Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles, and Tinker Hatfield in Portland.
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