Archaeologists in Türkiye's western Izmir province have unearthed a 5,000-year-old stone drainage network and ancient "workshop-houses," shedding new light on prehistoric urban planning, authorities said Monday.
The findings were uncovered at Liman Tepe in Urla, a 5,300-year-old Bronze Age port city known for hosting both land settlements and Türkiye's first underwater harbor excavations, according to Vasif Sahoglu, head of the excavation team and director of Ankara University's Research Center for Maritime Archaeology.
The 5,000-year-old settlement dates back to the Early Bronze Age, a pivotal era when early Anatolian cultures established fortified coastal cities and extensive trade networks across the Aegean Sea.
Detailing the discoveries, Sahoglu noted that the stone channels were built between terraced levels to divert rainwater away from the settlement. He described the water management network as a rare engineering feature, with very few examples found in Western Anatolia and the broader Aegean region from that era.
The excavations also revealed "long houses" -- measuring over 25 meters in length and about 5 meters in width -- featuring large storage jars embedded into the floors at their entrances, likely used to hold water or grain.
Sahoglu described these buildings as "workshop-houses," as archaeological findings, including weaving weights and metallurgical remains, indicate they were used for both daily living and manufacturing.
The comprehensive research at Liman Tepe, which began in 1992, involves both terrestrial and maritime archaeology. Underwater excavations at the site began in 2000, with this year's work focusing on determining when the ancient harbor's stone breakwater was built and how long it was used.
During these underwater operations, marine teams also recovered organic materials such as olive pits and grape seeds, which Sahoglu noted provide crucial insights into the ancient settlement's maritime trade.