The sculptural decoration of the “Tomb of Areisteos” in ancient Zeugma (Southeastern Turkey)

Since 2005, excavations at ancient Zeugma have been conducted by the University of Ankara (Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Arkeoloji Bölümü Klasik Arkeoloji Anabilim Dalı), under the direction of Professor Kutalmış Görkay. During 2019–2020, a significant rock-cut chamber tomb was uncovered in the southwestern necropolis of the ancient city, providing invaluable new data. The tomb, associated with a resident of Zeugma named Areisteos and his family, yielded statues, reliefs, and stelae with portraits, as well as grave goods and skeletal remains identified as belonging to the members of a single family. In use from the late 1st century AD to the late 2nd century AD, this tomb promises rich insights into the social structure and the cosmopolitan elite of Zeugma.