Excavations at ancient Side to run through summer

The archaeology department of Anatolian University has started its summer excavations in Antalya's ancient city of Side, home to several historic temples, including the Temple of Apollo and the Temple of Tyche, which have now been placed under protection to preserve the cultural and historic assets of the city. 

The ancient Greek Temple of Apollo is located at the end of Side's peninsula [Credit: Wiki Commons]

The archeological excavation team of 100 archeologists is being led by Assistant Professor Hüseyin Alanyalı in the touristic hub and historic city. Alanyalı said on Tuesday that excavations will continue until the end of the September. 

The excavations will be carried out to preserve and restore sites in Side of the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Tyche, the Temple of Dionysus, the Temple of Athena and a basilica, Alanyalı said. The site of the Temple of Apollo will be put under protection and will be closed to visitors during the summer months of 2012. Alanyalı underlined that the ancient city of Side was treated with a lack of care, with motorcycles and trucks passing near the site and harming the environment. 

Pınar Arsel represents the Culture and Tourism Ministry in the project. Along with Turkish archeologists, a group of 15 archeologists led by Professor Peter Scherrer from the archaeology department of Austrian Graz University are also working on the eastern part of the site. 

Source: Today's Zaman [July 11, 2012]