A burial in southeastern Turkey revealed a 35‑square‑meter mosaic with a Greek inscription, marking one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in the region.
While preparing a grave in the rural Özbilek neighborhood of Diyarbakır’s Ergani district, locals uncovered the mosaic, which experts believe dates to the late Roman or early Byzantine period.
Discovery made during a routine burial
The find features elaborate geometric patterns and two striking elements: a six-line inscription in ancient Greek and a Star of David enclosing a Christian cross.
Museum officials say this combination of Jewish and Christian iconography is exceptionally rare and could shed new light on cultural interactions in the region during antiquity.
Diyarbakır’ın Ergani ilçesinde mezar kazısı sırasında bulunan mozaikte, içerisinde haç motifi bulunan “Davut Yıldızı” sembolü ve Grekçe yazı tespit edildi. pic.twitter.com/woNuEr1H71
— Onedio (@onediocom) August 2, 2025
Authorities moved quickly after the find. Villagers halted the burial and alerted local officials, prompting the Ergani District Gendarmerie to secure the site. The Diyarbakır Museum Directorate dispatched a team the same day to conduct an initial assessment, classifying the area as historically significant and launching an emergency excavation.
Excavation uncovers intricate mosaic
“Based on the style and motifs, we concluded that the mosaic likely dates to the late Roman or early Byzantine period,” said Mehmet Çelebi, deputy director of the Diyarbakır Museum. “It appears to have been the floor of a substantial structure — possibly a villa or religious building — and features rich geometric patterns.”
Diyarbakır'da mezar kazısında mozaik, Davut yıldızı ve 6 satırlık eski Yunan dilinde dilekçe yazısı ortaya çıkarıldı. pic.twitter.com/h0ZRkIaFHd
— Yzb Hakan (@hakaanyzb) August 2, 2025
A multidisciplinary team of archaeologists, art historians, restorers, and anthropologists began a three-week rescue excavation. Their work uncovered the full mosaic, revealing both the intricate decorative elements and the enigmatic Greek inscription. Scholars believe the inscription may be a formal petition or spiritual plea, though translation efforts remain underway.
Greek inscription links find to Byzantine heritage
The six-line inscription is written in ancient Greek, the administrative and liturgical language of the Byzantine Empire. Its presence reinforces the mosaic’s link to late antiquity, a period when Greek-speaking Christian communities were widespread in Anatolia.
🔴Diyarbakır'ın Ergani ilçesinde mezar kazısı sırasında hazine değerinde bir eser bulundu.
◾Kazıda bulunan mozaikte yapılan incelemede içerisinde haç motifi olan "Davud Yıldızı" sembolü ve eski Grekçe (eski Yunanca) ile yazılmış 6 satır yazı belirlendi. pic.twitter.com/bf74UouyYM
— Diyarbakır Kulis Haber (@KulisHaber21) August 3, 2025
Experts say the text, combined with the Star of David and cross motif, offers rare evidence of religious and cultural overlap in the region.
“This type of inscription, especially combined with such symbolic imagery, is rare and raises many questions about the religious and cultural interactions in the region during that period,” Çelebi said.
Site protected after rare discovery
The mosaic lies within an active cemetery, prompting immediate preservation measures. After the excavation, the team covered the site with protective geotextiles. The Cultural Heritage Preservation Board has since prohibited further burials in the area and allocated a new section of the cemetery for future use.
Experts suspect the mosaic may belong to a larger, yet undiscovered, settlement linked to the ancient city of Memalan. Its quality and unusual iconography suggest the area could yield additional discoveries, potentially offering a clearer picture of religious life in southeastern Anatolia during late antiquity.
As translation work continues, historians and archaeologists regard the find as a rare window into the region’s cultural fusion, where multiple faiths and artistic traditions once coexisted and intertwined.
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