Ancient mosaics discovered at 7,000-year-old Dara ruins

Ancient mosaics have been discovered at the 7,000-year-old Dara ruins near the Turkish city of Mardin. The mosaics, which came to light through a new set of archeological digs which began at Dara last year, depict animal figures and representations of umbrella motifs. Authorities note that the mosaics found at Dara are similar in some ways to the ancient mosaics at the historical site of Zeugma, also in Turkey. In the meantime, the Mardin Governor’s offices are offering their support for the digs at Dara, which originally began in 1986, led by Professor Metin Ahunbay and his team. A new set of archeological digs slated to start this month at Dara will be receiving the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay, who visited the southeastern Anatolian town of Mardin last month, stated at that time that the ministry would be supplying the necessary financial support to the Dara digs to ensure that the historical treasures found in Mardin would surface for study and appreciation.

The 40-meter-deep site at Dara has been cleared, and military food and arms supply depots belonging to the Babylonian and Persian empires have already emerged, as have stone cemetery sites. Residential sites and underground homes carved from rock have also been found.

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