Ancient sarcophagus discovered by the Police searching for stolen car

A Police team investigating a case of a stolen vehicle discovered an ancient Roman sarcophagus in Hisardere near Iznik, Bursa province, North-west Turkey. Upon excavation of the object it was possible to date the find to the 2nd century AD.

The sarcophagus (by Daily Sabah)
The sarcophagus (by Daily Sabah)

The Police officers were searching for a stolen truck when they encountered what it looked like an abandoned illegal excavation within an olive grove. Inside the trench there was an unearthed stone sarcophagus from the Late Antiquity.

Excavation of the sarcophagus (by Arkeolojihaber)
Excavation of the sarcophagus (by Arkeolojihaber)

Archaeologists from he Iznik Museum excavated and studied the find, revealing it was made in 2nd century AD. The object is decorated with antefixes on both sides, each with a shape of a lion’s head. The sarcophagus is said to weight about 6 tons and will be put on display in the Iznik Museum after it is fully excavated, removed and documented.

Detail of the sarcophagus (by Arkeolojihaber)
Detail of the sarcophagus (by Arkeolojihaber)

(after Daily Sabah & Arkeolojihaber)

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