The dawn in central Anatolia broke cool, and the faint light traced patterns on the dusty excavation trenches. In İncesu, in Turkey’s Kayseri Province, archaeologists brushed away centuries of soil, tile by tile, to reveal a world beneath their feet: one of ambition, art, and surprising continuity.
In late 2023, the Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University team—led by Dr. Can Erpek—announced a spectacular discovery: a Roman-era villa, sprawling, richly decorated, with what may be the largest mosaic floor yet found in Central Anatolia. The mosaic uncovered thus far covers about 600 square meters (roughly 6,400 ft²).
But that is just the beginning of the story.
Mosaic Floors, Inscriptions, And Stories In Stone
As they peeled back the layers, the team found rooms—at least 30 to 33 of them so far—connected by corridors, courtyards, and thresholds. In those rooms, the mosaic tesserae form geometric patterns: interlaced bands, rosettes, and repeated motifs that speak to both beauty and precision.
But the most soul-stirring moments came when the team read inscriptions in the mosaic itself. One Greek phrase, preserved in the floor, reads “if you are healthy, enter” — a kind of welcome or blessing for those who cross the threshold. Another Latin inscription, likely placed in what was once the reception hall, invokes prayers and mentions a 30th anniversary, naming Hyakinthos (Hyacinthos), Comes — suggesting not just a resident, but a person of rank or office.
Hyakinthos may have been the villa’s patron or an imperial official. The presence of both Greek and Latin text suggests a mingling of cultural worlds—Roman, Hellenic, and local—in the region’s elite life.
Dr. Erpek noted, “In Central Anatolia … we do not see such an extensive residential area with mosaic floors.” More remarkably, he emphasized that they have not yet reached the villa’s boundaries; the excavation continues to expand outward, offering a rare glimpse of ancient luxury hidden beneath centuries of dust.
Layers Of Use: From Villa To Cemetery
The villa did not end its story when the Roman or Byzantine influence waned. In a remarkable twist, the 2025 excavation season has yielded graves of children and adults dating to the 11th century—interred within or atop the mosaic complex itself. Coins found in one grave helped date it securely to the medieval period.
This suggests that the site was reused as a burial ground long after its original construction. Rather than being abandoned or forgotten, it persisted in local memory and ritual. Dr. Erpek described that this season confirmed a two-courtyard layout with additional mosaics in peristyle corridors—evidence that the residential plan endured into later adaptations.
In other words, the villa’s bones stayed alive. The shift from a grand dwelling to a place of burial reflects a continuity of reverence: these spaces remained meaningful, even as communities changed.
Panorama Of Anatolian Mosaic Discoveries
This İncesu villa does not stand alone. Across Turkey, similar finds enrich and nuance the picture of late antique and Byzantine life.
In Elazığ, in eastern Turkey, a farmer recently uncovered a mosaic floor of about 84 m² depicting wild animals and hunting scenes—including a rare Anatolian leopard. That mosaic lay snug beneath collapsed timber and sediment, preserved by chance. Its intricate artistry portrays lions, stags, and boars—each symbolizing strength, courage, and the rhythm of nature.
In İznik (ancient Nicaea), archaeologists have revealed Roman-era mosaics in a basilica and reception rooms, possibly tied to a high-ranking private owner or military leader. The motifs and settings closely mirror the luxury and symbolic meanings seen in İncesu.
These discoveries resonate: in different parts of Anatolia, mosaic floors were not only decoration but declarations—of wealth, belief, and identity. The İncesu mosaic villa occupies a central place in this growing network of finds, pushing boundaries of scale, artistry, and historical continuity.
Stepping Into The Past, Looking Ahead
Picture yourself stepping into one of the uncovered rooms: the soft glow of reflected light across tesserae, the echo of footsteps centuries mute but imaginable, Greek letters curving beneath your feet, corners holding drifted soil and mosaic dust. Above, the sky could be seen through open courtyards; beyond, an Anatolian landscape that has shifted dramatically over time.
Here, the villa’s inhabitants—Roman administrators, Byzantine successors—spoke Greek and Latin, entertained guests in courtyards, and walked across these mosaic floors as part of daily ritual. Then later, long after their era had ended, others placed their loved ones here, weaving new memories into an ancient canvas.
Today, scholars, heritage professionals, and local authorities face the challenge of preserving this site. They must protect fragile tesserae from harsh weather, plan for sustainable tourism, and decide how much to expose to the world. In past seasons, uncovered mosaics have been temporarily covered and “put to sleep” over winter to ensure their survival.
There is hope that, once fully revealed and conserved, the İncesu mosaic complex will become one of Kayseri’s premiere cultural landmarks—bringing scholarship, community pride, and thoughtful tourism together.
In its stones and patterns, this villa sings a story: of high art in a frontier province, of overlapping empires and faiths, and of human memory preserved in color and light. If we listen carefully, we can trace the voices—Hyakinthos greeting his guests, children playing in courtyards, and later generations laying their loved ones to rest.
Most importantly, this site reminds us that history is not a relic—it is living testimony. Through art, care, and rediscovery, we breathe life into what time tried to conceal.
