Mehmet Doğaner / Mersin, Sep 2 () - The 21th round of excavation works at ancient site of Elaiussa Sebaste located in Turkey’s southeastern province of Mersin will start on Sep. 8 and be completed by Sep. 20.

Some 45 people including 20 academicians will work on the field within excavations led by Professor Annalisa Polosa from Le Sapienza University Archaeology Department in Rome, Italy.

As the last director of excavations, Prof Evgenia Egnini Schneider has completed her 10th year on the field, Polosa has been assigned to the role.

According to Polosa, after 20 years of excavations, history pullulates from beneath every rock and the ancient site illustrates a sort of open air archaeology museum, boosting not only the scientific side but also the touristic side of the historical area. In this regard, the five-km-long ancient Roman road is expected to be cleaned and opened to visitors to ease the access and attract touristic hiking tours to the region.

The works have unearthed an ancient theatre, Agora, Basilica, Temple, Byzantine Palaze, Turkish baths, Necropolls and two seaports.

(PHOTO)