For the first time in the 12,000-year history of Diyarbakır, a sarcophagus tomb was found

• For the first time in the 12,000-year history of Diyarbakır, a sarcophagus tomb was found.

In the excavation conducted between the 4th stage of the 5,000-year-old Diyarbakır walls, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the Saint George Church, located at Tower 75, a “sarcophagus” dating back to the Roman period was found. This sarcophagus is the first of its kind discovered in the city.
Restoration work continues on the damaged sections of the 5,000-year-old Diyarbakır walls listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the Central Sur district.
While the work on the 4th stage continues at Tower 75, the team encountered a hard surface. Upon examination of the area, the team identified a “sarcophagus” dating back to the Roman period, which is the first of its kind in the city, located between Tower 75 and the Saint George Church.
The sarcophagus, which has 2 lids, is 2 meters 24 centimeters long and 82 centimeters high and was carefully lifted out with a crane. Upon examination, it was revealed that the body of the sarcophagus was made of solid limestone.
A “Maltese Cross” was identified within a circle in the middle of its body. Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory teams of Diyarbakır started working on the sarcophagus, which has been exhibited in the museum garden.
Furkan Erkan, who came from Kütahya to visit Southeast Anatolia and Diyarbakır, said they visited the museums in the region inside the Sur district. Erkan, noting the abundance of historical artifacts, said, “The sarcophagus here has just been unearthed. There is still moisture on it. Sarcophagus tombs are seen in the Aegean region. However, this is the first time such a sarcophagus tomb has been unearthed here. It is considered that there was an important figure inside due to its first discovery.”
It was noted that the identity of the bones found inside the sarcophagus and their genders would be determined after the studies to be conducted in Gaziantep.