Villa Construction Halted After 8 Roman Tombs Discovered on 2.5-Acre Plot

A significant archaeological discovery in Mersin's Mezitli district has halted construction plans for a villa project, revealing a rich Roman-era necropolis beneath a plot previously deemed clear of historical artifacts. The saga began in 2002 with initial findings during road construction, leading to preliminary excavations that identified Roman sarcophagi. Despite this, a 2.5-dunam parcel adjacent to the site, designated as a 3rd Degree Archaeological Site, was purchased in 2013 and later received a construction permit in 2020 for four villas.

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During the 13 test drilling studies previously conducted on the land owned by the businessman, it was reported that no movable or immovable cultural assets were found.

Crucially, the Mersin Museum Directorate's initial surveys, including 13 test drillings on the developer's land, reported no findings of significant movable or immovable cultural assets. This assessment formed the basis for the initial construction approval, albeit with a condition to report any discoveries during building. However, a subsequent review, reportedly initiated by an acting museum director during the absence of the main director, flagged discrepancies concerning the sarcophagi found during municipal roadworks.

This led to expanded rescue excavations in 2022 and 2023, which unearthed not only new sarcophagi but also a water channel believed to date from the Late Antiquity period. The discovery of these structures, particularly the water channel extending towards the developer's plot, prompted experts to recommend continuing excavations on that specific land. This contradicted the earlier findings and led to new rescue excavations in 2024.

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In the new excavations conducted in 2022 and 2023, new sarcophagi and a water channel believed to belong to the Late Antiquity period were unearthed.

These latest excavations yielded a remarkable haul: eight Roman tombs containing numerous artifacts, a Roman water channel, and architectural remnants. Consequently, the Adana Regional Board of Cultural Heritage has intervened, issuing a decision to halt all construction on the site until the legal process regarding the 2021 construction permit is finalized. This dramatic turn of events underscores the challenges in balancing development with heritage preservation, especially when initial surveys may not capture the full historical depth of a location. Cumhuriyet, as a publication committed to shedding light on such critical issues, views this as a vital reminder of the hidden histories that lie beneath our feet and the importance of thorough archaeological diligence.

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The Adana Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board decided on December 12, 2025, not to carry out unauthorized construction until the process against the construction permit granted in 2021 is completed.