The remains of Hadrianoi, an ancient city founded by Roman Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 123, are being brought to light through archaeological excavations in the Orhaneli district of northwestern Türkiye’s Bursa province.
The excavation is being carried out across an area of around 5,000 square meters (around 1.24 acres) under the leadership of the Bursa General Directorate of Museums and with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Professor Derya Şahin, a faculty member in the Department of Archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, serves as the project's scientific adviser.
Through the excavations, researchers hope to pinpoint the exact location of Hadrianoi, which Hadrian is believed to have founded in the area where he hunted on the southern slopes of Mount Uludağ, and to shed light on the region's historical significance.
Bursa Museum Director Ahmet Türkmenoğlu told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Orhaneli, one of Bursa's oldest districts, has been home to settlements since the Roman era.
Noting that the existence of a city known as Hadrianoi in the district has long been documented, Türkmenoğlu said Hadrian came to Anatolia to inspect areas affected by an earthquake and traveled through what were then known as the regions of Mysia and Bithynia.
