Liman Tepe discovery reveals 5,000-year-old ancient drainage system

Archaeologists at the Liman Tepe excavation site in Urla, Izmir, have discovered an ancient drainage system dating back approximately 5,000 years. The system consists of stone channels designed to manage rainwater and prevent flooding, a feature described as rare in the Aegean and Western Anatolia regions.

The excavation, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ankara University, and the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, aims to shed light on the 7,000-year history of the area. In addition to land-based findings such as streets, walls, and ‘long houses,’ researchers are also investigating an underwater port, marking one of the first instances in Turkey where land and underwater excavations are conducted simultaneously.

Prof. Dr. Vasıf Şahoğlu, head of the excavation, noted that the stone channels appear to have been engineered to channel water toward specific points rather than serving as drinking water conduits. The discovery highlights the advanced urban planning and engineering capabilities of Bronze Age societies in the region.