Today, the Turkish town of Iznik is best known for its stunning ceramics.
But historically, it was an important cultural center during the Byzantine and early Christian periods.
Incredibly, the ancient ruins had gone unnoticed until government surveyors stumbled upon them.
For Dr. Mustafa Sahin, head of archeology at Bursa Uludag University, it was quite a surprise.
The team was able to learn quite a bit about the early Christian church during their dig.
As archeologists continue their work, they’re looking to unravel another mystery.
Dr. Sahin believes that the building the church sits upon may be a pagan temple dedicated to Apollo.
Ancient records show that the Roman emperor Commodus built this temple in Nicea just outside the city walls.
In 2014, researchers discovered an ancient basilica submerged in Turkey’s Lake Iznik.
