Int’l documentation work begins for Aigai building

With the support of the German Archaeological Institute, international documentation work has been initiated in the agora building of the ancient city of Aigai, which dates back 2,700 years in the western province of Manisa.

"If the Byzantines had not destroyed this building, it would have remained intact except for its roof. The most important feature of this architectural and engineering marvel is that it stands without any binding," said the head of Aigai excavation team and a faculty member of Manisa Celal Bayar University, Department of Archeology Associated Professor Yusuf Sezgin.

This year's excavations have been initiated recently in the ancient city of Aigai, which is one of the 12 Aeolian cities established in Western Anatolia, located near the Yuntdağ Köseler neighborhood of Yunusemre district and has a history of 2,700 years.

Sponsored by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Turkish Historical Society, Yunusemre Municipality and Aliağa Municipality, the works focused on the agora building, which is the symbol of the ancient city.

With the support of the German Archaeological Institute, the international documentation work continues in the agora building, which is thought to consist of 14 rooms with a height of 11 meters and a length of 80 meters.

Sezgin stated that they will transfer the historical structure to future generations, adding, "One of the most important structures known in Aigai is the agora building. This is a famous building that has been seen by everyone who comes here for thousands of years. It is 2,200 years old. It should have been 80 meters long, 11 meters high, and 15 meters in the original form. It is a stone building that has survived, albeit partially, in the best way...