Roman era tomb discovered in ancient Apollonia theater

Archaeologists conducting excavations in northwestern Turkey have discovered a 1,900-year-old tomb within the ancient theater of Apollonia upon Rhyndacus. Located in the Bursa province, specifically in the Gölyazı region, the tomb dates back to the 1st century AD.

The structure consists of a burial chamber made of raw bricks and covered with terracotta roof tiles arranged in a slanted pattern. While the ancient city possessed its own organized necropolis, the placement of this burial within the theater's seating area has puzzled researchers.

Professor Derya Şahin of Bursa Uludağ University, who leads the excavation team, noted that the discovery is highly unusual. Although the burial style resembles other tombs found in the region, its location in a public space suggests it may have held special symbolic significance, potentially linked to a sacred or heroic figure.