Excavation efforts in the Prusias Ad Hypium Ancient City, located in the Konuralp region of Düzce, have revealed three artifacts believed to date back to the Roman period.
These excavations, which began in 2018 under the direction of the Konuralp Museum Directorate, are conducted with the permission of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, alongside support from the Düzce Municipality.
The ancient city, with a history tracing back to the 3rd century BCE, has experienced significant destruction and alteration due to past earthquakes and restoration efforts. Notable discoveries include a Medusa head sculpture, a statue head attributed to Alexander the Great, an Apollo statue, a lion mosaic, a portrait bust believed to belong to M. Iulius Proklos, who constructed the ancient theater's stage building, and a water storage reservoir from the Byzantine period.
Recently uncovered artifacts include a terracotta theater ticket from the Roman era, a figurine depicting Aphrodite, and a Thyrsus figure.
Düzce Mayor Faruk Özlü stated that these findings represent a significant step in preserving the city’s 2,300-year history for future generations. He noted that approximately 80% of the theater area has been revealed, emphasizing the importance of these intact historical artifacts found in the region.
Özlü highlighted the potential of the entire area to be recognized as an archaeological site, asserting that beneath this settlement lies a Roman city. Experts have confirmed this identification, and he expressed confidence that the discoveries could alter the understanding of historical timelines.