Used as a seat: An ancient Roman artifact was accidentally discovered in Turkey (photo).

In the mosque located in the city of Fatsa, Turkey, a monument from the Roman Empire, dated to 239 AD, has been discovered. This unexpected finding marks a significant discovery in the northeastern region, revealing the Roman presence and infrastructure that once spanned across ancient Anatolia, reports Arkeonews.

Roman milestones, known as miliaria, were stone markers that played a crucial role in the extensive road system of the empire. Positioned at intervals of one Roman mile (approximately 1.5 km), these markers assisted travelers in navigating the empire's road network, often indicating the distance to the nearest towns.

Some milestones even bore the names of emperors or officials responsible for the construction or maintenance of the roads. The preserved milestones provide historians with valuable insights into Roman engineering, cultural practices, and everyday life during that period.

This milestone, nearly 1800 years old, has found an unexpected use over the years—it served as a seat near the central Laleli Mosque in the Bolaman district of Fatsa. Literature teacher Aydin Bal from Fatsa High School was the first to notice the stone, prompting an investigation by local authorities.

The Director of Culture for the Fatsa Municipality, Cevat Erbil, along with Dr. Şekip Evçim from the Art History Department of Ordu University, examined the stone and confirmed that it is an artifact from the Roman period.

The inscription on the stone, translated by Hüseyin Sami Öztürk, an expert in epigraphy and linguistics from Marmara University, indicated that it was originally erected in honor of Emperor Gordian III. The stone marked a reconstructed section of road.

According to Dr. Evçim, the stone was likely installed to commemorate the construction of a port road connecting Bolaman and Yalıköy. Although the stone is no longer in its original location, having been moved during the mosque's construction in the 1970s, it has been transferred to the Ordu Museum, where further studies are planned to gain a better understanding of its historical context.

The Fatsa region, with a history that dates back to ancient times, was once home to the Cimmerians and Pontic Greeks before becoming part of the Roman Empire in 62 AD during the reign of Emperor Nero. By the end of the 3rd century, this area was reorganized under Diocletian's reforms, reinforcing its role within the Roman administrative structure.

We also reported on an unexpected find in the Alps. Researchers discovered a bamboo cart at an ancient Roman pass, which had mysteriously ended up there.