2,500-year-old monumental marble statue unearthed in Türkiye

A 2,500-year-old monumental marble statue has been unearthed at the ancient city of Sardes in western Türkiye, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on Monday. In a social media post, Ersoy said the 2.2-meter marble statue dates to the first half of the fifth century B.C. and depicts a standing young man.

The statue features distinctive clothing associated with the ancient Lydian culture, the minister said. According to Ersoy, the artifact was reused as a paving stone during the Roman period and was preserved in remarkable condition because it had been laid face down for centuries.