Lystra Excavations In Konya Are Reshaping Anatolian History

The latest archaeological works carried out in the ancient city of Lystra in the Meram district shed light on the cultural depth of Anatolia.

A multi-layered settlement texture is emerging, where Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and later Anatolian layers accumulated one on top of another within the same area.

A SETTLEMENT WHERE CIVILIZATIONS INTERSECT

During the latest works, a sealed bronze holy cross dated to the 9th-11th centuries was unearthed.

In addition, a bronze amulet belonging to the Seljuk period was also identified in the same settlement layer.

These data show that Lystra was not a single-period ancient city, but a living settlement that constantly changed through belief systems, trade routes and political transformations.

KONYA: A RISING ROUTE OF CULTURAL TOURISM

Lystra is described by the excavation team as a "living archive."

The new findings in the Lystra excavations further strengthen the city's cultural tourism potential.