Yenikapı Byzantine harbor and wrecks

The Yenikapı site, located in a neighbourhood in Istanbul, was discovered during the construction of stations developed by the Turkish Ministry of Transport and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Excavations in 2010 covered an area of 85,000 square metres and started 3 metres above sea level. Experts decided to conserve the onshore architectural remains, such as the sea walls and a part of the breakwater, on the original site. Remains of Neolithic origin were also unearthed, contributing to the understanding of the Neolithization of the region, especially in terms of burial architecture, as well as Ottoman cisterns and workshops.

During the excavation, the Port of Theodosius, the largest port in the Early Byzantine Period, was unearthed. This harbour, built by Theodosius (379-393 AD) while the new Roman Empire’s capital was expanding, was extensively used from the 4^th to the 11^th centuries and remains of ships indicate that after the 11^th century it became accessible only to small boats. It seems to have been completely filled in in the 16^th century.

Remains of 37 Byzantine ships dating back to the 5^th-11^th centuries were found, constituting one of the world’s largest repertories of ancient ships. These shipwrecks are exceptionally well-preserved and, along with the infrastructure remains, they are a significant source of knowledge on the maritime trade of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire (330-1453 AD).