The site of the ancient city has been declared an archaeological site
The Seyhan Dam Lake Reservoir Area in the Sarıçam district of Adana, where the ancient city of Augusta is located, has been declared a first-degree archaeological site by the Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. The decision, published in the Official Gazette on January 11, 2026, and entering into force on the same date, is considered an important step in the protection of the historical and cultural heritage in the region.
During periods when the water level in the Seyhan Dam Lake drops, the remains of the Roman-era ancient city of Augusta, near the Karaömerli neighborhood of the Sarıçam district, reappear. It has been learned that coins, tombstones, and various architectural fragments from this ancient city, dating back to the 1st century BC, have been found and are preserved in museums in Adana.
This area has been declared a first-degree archaeological site by the Regional Board for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. With the decision published in the Official Gazette on January 11, 2026, the Seyhan Dam Lake reservoir area and the surrounding historical regions were placed under protection, and it was decided that all excavations, scientific research, and development plans in the region would be carried out in accordance with the status of a first-degree archaeological site.
Officials stated that the high probability of finding prehistoric and ancient remains in the region, as well as its high cultural heritage value, were influential in the decision to designate it as a site.
Historian and author Cezmi Yurtsever, commenting on the issue, stated that the site designation decision is important and that comprehensive archaeological studies should be conducted in the region.
Yurtsever said, “An ancient city was built approximately 2000 years ago in memory of Livia, the wife of Roman Emperor Augustus. Coins used during that period are coming to light. One side features Livia, and the other side features the river goddess. The existence of an ancient city, visible only from the surface, is known without archaeological excavations.”
Yurtsever stated that underwater archaeological studies should be conducted in the area, saying, “It is a belated decision to designate it as an archaeological site. The area was flooded in 1955.
71 years have passed since then. Although it has been declared an archaeological site today, there are many artifacts remaining underwater. Despite this, work needs to be done in the area.”
Yurtsever also claimed that there are remnants of a theater building, columns, roads, and water channels in the area, adding that scientific studies would make significant contributions to the history of Adana.