Excavation work at the ancient city of Rhodiapolis in Antalya’s Kumluca district is scheduled to resume next year, following a period of suspension, as efforts continue to uncover and preserve the site’s archaeological heritage.
Kumluca District Governor Bahadır Güneş recently visited the ancient city with a delegation, describing Rhodiapolis as “a window into Kumluca’s history.” Excavations at the site began in 2006 and have since brought much of the ancient settlement to light.
Beste Tomay, an archaeology faculty member at Adıyaman University who advises the excavation project, said Rhodiapolis holds an important place among the ancient cities of Lycia, both historically and culturally.
Tomay said preparations are being carried out this year, including field surveys, assessments of previous excavation work and an inventory of artifacts held in storage. Full excavation activities are expected to resume next year under the coordination of the excavation leadership.
The site contains remains spanning the Lycian and Byzantine periods, including a theater, bathhouse, agora, temples, a church, cisterns and monumental tombs. Archaeologists believe further excavation could reveal additional elements of the ancient settlement and deepen understanding of the region’s cultural history.
Tomay said bringing the entire city to light would make a significant contribution to Kumluca’s historical and cultural profile, while strengthening the connection between the district and its ancient past.
