Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Bronze Statue Recycling Site in Turkey

In a remarkable archaeological discovery, experts in Turkey have unearthed approximately 2,000 fragments of bronze statues believed to have been sorted in an ancient scrapyard. The site, located within the ruins of the city of Metropolis, near modern-day Izmir, provides insight into the recycling practices of the Late Antiquity period.

The fragments include a variety of body parts such as hands, feet, and even eyeballs. Archaeologist Serdar Aybek, leading the Heritage to the Future Project funded by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, described the discovery as “extraordinary.” He emphasized the significance of the site as a location where broken bronze statues were likely dismantled for reuse, possibly to be melted down to mint coins.

The artifacts range from Hellenistic to Roman styles, indicating a diverse history of sculpture production in the region. As the late antiquity era transitioned away from polytheistic beliefs to monotheism, many bronze idols lost their spiritual significance, leading to their repurposing. Aybek theorizes that the majority of these pieces could have been intended for recycling in the city's robust bronze statue trade.

This find sheds light on the economic practices of the time and adds a new layer of understanding to the cultural shift influencing material use in ancient societies.