Istanbul has undergone centuries of existence, yet it still manages to surprise us. This time it was a surprise underground. In the course of a continuing ancient conservation project at Hagia Sophia, archaeologists discovered 7 underground tunnels, almost 1,600 years old. This gave a rare glimpse into the early Byzantine history of the building.
Ancient Tunnels Discovered Under Hagia Sophia Uncover A Secret Byzantine World
The find became known as restoration teams undertook more intricate work on the monument in its massive structure. Such tunnels, according to the authorities, were no coincidental discoveries. They were produced following months of thorough scanning, digging and documentation.
According to the report by Turkiye Today, the tunnels are part of a bigger underground system which must have served ceremonial, burial as well as services during the Byzantine times.
Restoration Led By Science, Not Speed
Turkiye’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy affirmed that every restoration operation in Hagia Sophia is under strict scientific control. All decisions, including the choice of materials and structural reinforcement, are supervised by academic advisory boards and special teams.
Currently, approximately 11,000 square metres of the exterior of Hagia Sophia is covered with scaffolding. The conservation teams also removed older plasters that were cement-based and included in previous restorations and replaced them with custom bricks made by following old practices. These bricks are a match of Early Byzantine, Middle Byzantine, and Ottoman history, allowing the structure to be intact without the need to rewrite history.
The interior also featured a 43.5-metre scaffolding construction by engineers to ensure that the dome is reachable safely. Priceless mosaics are covered with temporary steel roofing as lead roof coverings are renewed.
Dome And Minarets Get Careful Strengthening
The dome and the minarets of Hagia Sophia are some of the most complicated constructions of ancient times. The northeastern minaret was partially demolished by restoration teams to the point of the balcony, stone by stone was catalogued, damaged fragments were restored and put in their proper places.
Engineering intersects with craft. The structure is reinforced with stainless steel, and the copper finials are traditional gold-leaf finishes. Lead cladding is under development, which makes it durable without compromising aesthetics.
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Underground Tunnels Take The Centre Stage
The actual interest lies below. Ground-penetrating radar surveys showed that there was a network of tunnels covering hundreds of metres. These passageways were used to move teams that cleared more than 1,000 tons of soil in three underground chambers.
During the digs in the Vezir garden area, a hypogeum, or an underground burial complex with a central avenue and similar burial chambers, was discovered. The total amount of soil that emerged during that period was another 102 tons. These facts prove that Hagia Sophia was not a mere superficial monument but stratified, practical and very symbolic.
Cover Image Courtesy: Mehmet Nuri Ersoy/X