A secret water tunnel was found in Arsemia

A secret tunnel used for security and waterway was found on the main rock to the west of the ancient city of Arsemia located within the borders of Kocahisar village in the Kahta district of Adıyaman. Excavations began with the discovery of the entrance of a water tunnel leading to the Kahta Stream, known as Nympahaios (Enchanted Water) in the ancient times, carved into the main rock on the western part of Arsemia Ancient City. Although there were previous information about the existence of a water tunnel between the Old Kahta Castle and Arsemia Ancient City, the entrance of the tunnel, the location of which was previously unknown, was identified during the fieldwork of the Adıyaman Museum Directorate teams. With the permission obtained for the excavation of the tunnel, which is thought to extend to the Kahta Stream, known as Nympahaios (Enchanted Water) in the ancient times, work has begun. The excavation team advanced about 25 meters in the tunnel with stairs. Subsequently, the team plans to progress 20 more meters in the narrowing tunnel, expressing that the excavation can continue with the removal of the soil piles inside the tunnel. It is estimated that the tunnel was used in the ancient times to transport water from Nympahaios to Arsemia Ancient City and for soldiers to secretly go to other regions. Adıyaman Museum Director Mehmet Alkan provided information about the tunnel identified in the west of Arsemia Ancient City, stating, ‘We have identified a water tunnel located just to the west of Arsemia Ancient City. As a result of the excavations we conducted in this water tunnel, 25 steps were revealed. After these 25 steps, a further 20 meters of the tunnel was identified as narrowing. We aim to reach the Nympahaios Stream (Old Kahta Stream) through these excavations. In the ancient times, it is mentioned by the German Chief Engineer Fihrt Apple that there was a water tunnel for security reasons between the Old Kahta Castle and Arsemia Ancient City. He mentions an underground water tunnel here. Most likely, we believe that we will reach the first underground water tunnel as a result of the excavations we will conduct here’.