1500-year-old basilica discovered under Lake Iznik

Another christian ancient temple was found, here are some pictures and the news link...

A church which dates back to the year 500 CE was unearthed during excavations conducted under in the depths of Lake Iznik in Turkey's western province of Bursa.

www.worldbulletin.net...

Its right there. Like in plain sight. Twenty feet from shore.
I wonder how many fishing hooks that church claimed?

Amazing! but...how can you miss it to begin with?

I am sure that many people over the centuries knew that was there. I guess it is an ancient structure only when people who have a degree in the science find and identify it. Otherwise it is just an old foundation that has been there forever..

reply to post by CosmicDude


I bet a waterproof metal detector would probably find a treasure trove of artifacts.

The things that people take for granted surround us with undiscovered history.

Well, they mention about excavations going on under water. Maybe only now is seen this way

reply to post by CosmicDude


It show's how early that particular style of church floor plan came into use, great find, it must have been beautiful in it's hey day, I wonder if the mosaic or tyle floor is still intact in good conditon and if any glazed tile fresco are still there, it may be that as the water rose the basilica was moved from this site to higher ground and there may be or have been a matching twin on one of the hill's nearby, the town which surrounded it must also be under the lake and possible give the rate of subsidence or lake level rise the earlier town may be even further out with it's ancient harbour.
I wonder if it had an undercroft and if there are any finds to be made there.