Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism is carrying out a major renovation of the Hagia Sophia's dungeons in Istanbul to prepare them for public opening. This project aims to restore tunnels, vaults, corridors and a three-room underground tomb under the cathedral, writes Arkeonews.

U Focus. Technologies has its own Telegram channel. Subscribe so you don't miss the latest and most exciting news from the world of science!

These hidden spaces, which were used for ventilation, storage and burial, form a hidden network. One of the most interesting features of the dungeon is the Hypogeum, a three-room underground tomb located four meters below the north-eastern facade of the monument. Over the centuries, the tomb has undergone modifications and was connected to other underground structures by ventilation shafts..

This structure appeared before the main building, namely in the 4th century AD, many centuries before the completion of the Hagia Sophia in the 6th century. Although its existence has been known since 1946, the tomb remained inaccessible under layers of dirt and debris until 2020, when extensive cleanup efforts rediscovered it.

Dr. Hasan Firat Diker from the Scientific Council of Hagia Sophia noted the importance of the project.

“This research is important not only because it allows you to visit some sections, but also because its results reveal the history of Istanbul,” he said.

The scientist also said that the restoration includes sections under the courtyard, which are as old as the main building itself - about 1,500 years old.

Cleaning and restoration is expected to continue for another year under the supervision of experts from the monument's museum, who will ensure that all finds are treated with the utmost care.

Focus previously wrote about the burial of a court physician during the reign of Pharaoh Pepi II. Teti Neb Fu held many prestigious titles, including chief palace physician, chief dentist, and priest and “magician” of the goddess Serqet..

We also talked about the unexpected discovery of Turkish archaeologists. In western Turkey, researchers have discovered an ancient bathhouse that local residents used for years as stables..