the diggings were dropped to Yenikapı Archaeological Excavation coastline to be used in the construction of Team and Academic a wall to fill in the area in the sea. The new area that was acquired with filling in of the participants sea was rented to non-Muslims to build Excavations were carried out by a large homes and the revenue was forwarded to group, led by the Head Curator of Istanbul Laleli Mosque Foundation and used for the Eurasia Tunnel Archaeology Museum’s Zeynep S. Kızıltan. mosque’s expenditures. For the sake of the Site supervisors were Assistant Museum completion of this interesting story, finding Curator Rahmi Asal and Museum Among the projects towards amending the of noise pollution. To actualise the Eurasia of the wall was quite important. Because archaeologists Dr. Ö. Emre Öncü, Sırrı growing transportation issues, Eurasia Tunnel Tunnel Project’s design , construction and this brought back to mind a long forgotten Çölmekçi and Emir Son; archaeologists (Istanbul Straight Road Crossing Project) which operations, Directorate of Infrastructure matter about Istanbul’s urban history. There Çiğdem Aydın, Selma Ekşi, Melisa Şirazi, has been one of the biggest undertakings of Investments of the Ministry of Transport, is another characteristic of the wall which is Emek Uğurlar, Ozan Yıldırım, Evren Yıldız, the recent years, connects Asian side to the Maritime Affairs and Communications of important from an architectural perspective. Sinan Yiğit, art historian Alen Maşalı, European side with a 5 km road tunnel crossing Republic of Turkey (AYGM) has commissioned Because in water, especially in harbour restoration archaeologist Murat Akman beneath the seabed. Eurasia Tunnel which Eurasia Tunnel Operation Construction construction this surviving example in its and photographer Dilara Şen Turan were provides service for Istanbul’s heavy motor and Investment Inc.( ATAŞ) which has been well preserved condition shows a technique also involved in the workings. Istanbul vehicle traffic area with Koşuyolu-Kumkapı established by the collaboration of Yapı that has been used since the antique times in University Faculty of Forestry’s Prof. Dr. route and the tunnel’s access roads cover a Merkezi from Turkey and SK E&C from South ISTANBUL STRAIGHT the same semblance. Ünal Akkemik and his team have performed total of 14.6 km. While the 5.4 km section of the Korea in equal partnership. Eurasian Tunnel ROAD TUNNEL dendrochronology studies on the excavated project consists of a twin deck tunnel to be built will be handed over to the public at the end of timber. beneath the seabed with a special technology an approximately 25 years operating period. CROSSING PROJECT and the connecting tunnels with different methods, a total 9.2 km route on the European (EURASIA TUNNEL) and Asian sides underwent a widening and ARCHEOLOGICAL enhancement scheme. The approach routes EXCAVATIONS AND between Sarayburnu-Kazlıçeşme and Harem- Göztepe have been widened to give way to RESEARCH build junctions, vehicle underpasses and pedestrian overpasses. The Bosporus Strait tunnel crossing and road enhancement and widening schemes are an integral configuration to relieve Istanbul’s motor vehicle traffic. While the duration of commute time will be reduced drastically it will also be possible to enjoy a safe and luxurious passage. Istanbul’s new icon Eurasia Tunnel will also respect city’s environment and contribute to the reduction Excavation Sites and Their History FINDINGS Excavations were held in two different regions. The first site was on the Çatladıkapı front of the city walls. Inherent findings District as well as preserved foundation coast line located on the South of the Çatladıkapı like several stone anchors were found levels of some buildings that haven’t Marmara city walls. When the city’s antique During the excavations that were conducted during the work conducted on the antique survived. Important architectural data has topography was observed, it was evident in the Çatladıkapı Region, scattered seabed. It has been agreed that the anchors been acquired about the original stance of that the excavated regions had been filled remnants belonging to a wooden shipwreck found had belonged generally to small these buildings. In accordance with this in during the construction of the coastal were located on the sea bottom. It has boats. Numerous Byzantine Era perfume new data, it has been understood that every road but during the antique times the city been ascertained that these dismembered bottles and amphoras that have been dated house had a rain water cistern. The cisterns walls would have been 100m in front of the shipwreck remnants have reached present between 5th and 11th century AD have also were connected to the basement water walls, in the sea. The excavation site starts day in their dispersed state. The ship which been procured. Besides these, several taps. The bathrooms and the toilets were from the Boukoleon Palace at Çatladıkapı, probably belongs to late Ottoman Period terra-cotta objects such as lamps, pitchers located at the basement of the houses. streches to Kumkapı and then runs had its remains so scattered that it has and plates as well as engraved bone In addition, because the coastal homes along the shore line from Kontoskalion been impossible to envision the shape of objects in a variety of styles, like dagger were built on loose ground, it has been Harbour to Theodosius Harbour. The the ship. Besides the shipwreck remnants grips and game pieces have been found observed that for the sake of strengthening other excavation site is at the Yenikapı many articles with different material that also belong to the Byzantine Era. the base, raft foundation system had been region. Within the radius of the Yenikapı attributes have been brought out to light. applied. The findings that were excavated underground pass’s road area construction These findings tell the story of the past Yenikapı as a result of archive research show that site which includes a major part of the disposition of Istanbul’s coastal line in they are from the old housing zone of the Eurasia Tunnel Project’s connection roads, The excavations conducted at Yenikapı have Eastern side of Yalı District and they must excavations were conducted at the Yenikapı contributed most valuable information have belonged to at least eight different old roundabout on the coastal road, at to the public and the world of science in buildings. Aside from this information the section where Mustafa Kemal Road regards to Istanbul’s archelogy and urban the long perished Katip Kasım Külhani intersects the old Yenikapı road junction history. The first stage of the excavations Street, Sandık Street and a district fountain and on the 3000m² area on the East of th here have revealed 19 century coastal belonging to the Ottoman Period were once Aksaray Yalı District. The excavations Grounds for the Excavations homes that can still be seen at the Yalı again able to reveal their presence. On the on both regions began in 2014 and were and Research second stage of the excavations, a wall of concluded in 2017. monumental dimensions built in wooden chests providing valuable information Excavations and research were led on on architectural history about buildings the European side of the project at the constructed in water has been discovered. TBM exit of the Çatladıkapı and Yenikapı After our excavations and research it has Highway and the Yenikapı below ground been identified that this wall had been road construction area in accordance built into the sea around 1760, during the with the associated conservation board’s Ottoman Period, under Mustafa III. reign. decree and under the supervision of During the construction of Laleli Mosque, Istanbul Archaeology Museums..