STORY: Archaeological park to be unveiled at Istanbul train station
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 1, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 2, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:56
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Haydarpasa archaeological excavation site in Istanbul, Türkiye
2. various of archaeologists examine skeletons unearthed in a mass burial grave in Istanbul, Türkiye
3. various of people doing restoration work in an archaeological site in Istanbul, Türkiye
4. various of remains of the Ottoman-era harbor in Istanbul, Türkiye
5. various of historical artifacts and remains found in the Haydarpasa archaeological excavation site in Istanbul, Türkiye

STORYLINE:

Türkiye is set to unveil a groundbreaking archaeological park at the historic Haydarpasa Train Station on Istanbul's Asian side.

Excavation efforts since 2018 have uncovered nearly 100,000 square meters next to the station, which is located on the shores of the Marmara Sea.

With more than 90 percent of excavations now complete, officials are set to open a more than 400,000-square-meter archaeology park towards the end of this year.

Archaeologists have dug over five meters below the surface, revealing artifacts from the Ottoman, Byzantine, and Hellenistic periods. The discoveries include lamp fragments, coins, underground tombs, and religious relics.

The excavation site stands on the ruins of Khalkedon, a highly significant Hellenic colonial city.

One of the most thrilling finds in the area is the Church of Saint Bassa, which dates back to the 5th century A.D.

At the church site, the teams have uncovered architecturally significant remnants and a hypogeum containing 35 skeletons. Among the human remains are the bones of many children.

Experts say that the burial patterns suggest that the individuals may have died suddenly, possibly due to disease.

Haydarpasa Station, inaugurated in 1872 during the Ottoman Empire, faced a significant setback when a devastating fire in 2010 caused the roof to collapse, rendering the fourth floor unusable.

Since the launch of the Marmaray underwater railway in 2013, the historic station has remained dormant. Restoration of the station has been progressing in tandem with the ongoing excavations with plans for it to be operational once again.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul.
(XHTV)