Archaeologists Uncover 2,500-Year-Old Sardis Statue, Preserved as Roman Paving Stone
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 13
Archaeologists Uncover 2,500-Year-Old Sardis Statue, Preserved as Roman Paving Stone
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Aug 13
Summary
A roughly 7-foot statue of a young man holding fruit has been unearthed at Sardis in western Turkey, with experts dating it to the first half of the fifth century BC.
Roman reuse as a street paving stone kept the broken pieces in exceptional condition, allowing archaeologists a rare look at Lydia, the Iron Age kingdom whose capital was Sardis.
Researchers say the sculpture could reshape understanding of Lydian art because it mixes sixth-century-BC features—an upright pose and long hair—with fifth-century-BC treatment of the face and hands.
Nicholas Cahill of the Harvard- and Cornell-backed Sardis Expedition said the team remains "astounded and a bit perplexed" by the find, which officials call one of western Turkey's most unusual recent discoveries.
The discovery adds momentum to Turkey's heritage work after Sardis joined UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2025; officials recently also announced 1,800-year-old marble figures found at Aspendos.