Excavations at the Perinthos Ancient City, believed to be 5,000 years old and located in Marmaraereğlisi, Tekirdağ, have uncovered traces from the Hellenistic period beneath the early Roman theater, according to the excavation team. The discovery suggests the theater may have been constructed on a former Thracian open-air sanctuary.
The theater, the largest in Thrace, has been under excavation since 2022. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Koçel Erdem, who leads the team, stated that they found evidence of the Hellenistic period beneath the Roman structure, which she described as an important result. She also noted that the theater might have been built on a Thracian sacred area.
The depth of fill in the theater, indicating extensive layering.
Only one quarter of the theater has been excavated so far. The fill depth of 6 meters and the number of workers determine the pace, Prof. Dr. Erdem said, adding that she cannot give a precise completion date. The excavation team includes 49 people: 30 students, specialists, and about 30 workers.
The theater is comparable in size to the Bergama and Ephesus theaters, according to the team. The necropolis area of the ancient city was opened for research in 2021, and the acropolis area is approximately 1.5 kilometers long and about 500 meters wide.
We can easily compare it with the Bergama Theater and Ephesus.
The new excavation season started in June 2026. Visitors from Bulgaria, Greece, and Macedonia have been coming to the site, and local residents bring food and watch the excavations, according to the team.
People come themselves. They watch, come to the excavation, bring food.