In the Kartepe district of Kocaeli, a 53‑year‑old demolition worker named Erol Tandoğan discovered bone fragments while collecting soil from a neighbor’s garden for potting plants. The find occurred on Reşit Bey Street in the Acısu neighborhood, where Tandoğan had previously carried out excavation work. During the soil removal, Tandoğan noticed a broken brick. Upon breaking the brick, he found bone fragments beneath it. He immediately called the 112 emergency line and notified the local village headman. Police and archaeological teams were dispatched to the site. Archaeologists and security personnel examined the area and collected samples of the brick and bone fragments. The materials were taken to the Kocaeli Museum Directorate for further analysis. Experts suggested that the fragments could date back to the Roman Empire, although this has not yet been confirmed. Tandoğan explained that he had worked in the area three years earlier without encountering any historical remains. “I was digging for soil again two days ago, and when we broke the brick we saw bone fragments. We called 112 and the village headman. The police and archaeology teams came, and they said it might be a burial. The area has been under police surveillance for 24 hours, and the teams have been excavating since early morning,” he said. The site remains under police supervision, and the collected samples are awaiting detailed examination by museum specialists.
Article and image source: Haberler