Rare Roman Pithos Tomb Unearthed at Ancient Hadrianopolis in Türkiye
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in northern Türkiye have uncovered a rare Roman-era pithos tomb, marking the first burial of its kind ever discovered in the inland western Black Sea region.
The remarkable discovery was made during ongoing excavations near the modern town of Eskipazar in Karabük Province. The burial was placed inside a large ceramic storage jar, known as a pithos, which was commonly used throughout the ancient world to store grain, wine, olive oil and other agricultural products. In some regions of the Roman Empire, these massive jars were also reused as burial containers.
Inside the pithos, archaeologists found human skeletal remains accompanied by several grave goods. The burial included seven pottery vessels, an oil lamp, a knife, two finely crafted bone hairpins and a bronze coin.Image Credit : AA
The coin was minted during the reign of Roman Emperor Probus, who ruled between AD 276 and 282, allowing researchers to date the burial to the late third century AD.
The pair of bone hairpins suggests the individual buried in the tomb may have been a woman. However, specialists say further examination of the skeletal remains will be required before confirming the person's sex, age and health.
Excavation director Professor Ersin Çelikbaş described the discovery as an important milestone for regional archaeology.
According to Çelikbaş, this is the first documented pithos burial ever identified at Hadrianopolis and the first known example from Türkiye's inland western Black Sea region. The find provides valuable new evidence about local Roman funerary traditions and burial practices.
Among the recovered artifacts were examples of Pontic Sigillata, a distinctive red-slipped Roman tableware widely traded around the Black Sea. Similar ceramics have previously been uncovered across Hadrianopolis, highlighting the city's active commercial connections with neighboring regions during the Roman period.
Hadrianopolis has a history stretching back more than 3,000 years. The settlement was first established by the Hittites around 1300 BC before later flourishing under Roman rule. During the second century AD, it developed into an important regional center positioned along a major trade route linking the Black Sea coast with central Anatolia and the Aegean.
The newly discovered burial offers fresh insight into Roman funerary customs in northern Anatolia while reinforcing Hadrianopolis' importance as one of Türkiye's richest archaeological sites. Excavations continue each season, and researchers believe many more discoveries remain hidden beneath the ancient city.