Archaeologists have recently uncovered an ancient Roman hospital in the Greek city of Kaunos, revealing its transformation into a Christian sanctuary over centuries. This discovery, found in the southwestern Muğla Province of Turkey, provides new insights into the historical and religious evolution of the site. The hospital, which dates back to the 3rd century AD, was used as a military garrison hospital during the Roman era and was later converted into a church during the Christianization period in the 6th century.
Excavators have been working at this Late Antiquity complex since 2022, and the site has provided valuable archaeological evidence, including medical tools and inscriptions on religious texts. These findings suggest that the hospital was not only a medical center but also eventually became a public health facility. The site’s history extends beyond the Roman and Christian periods, as it also served as a structure during the Turkish rule, evidenced by the discovery of a coin from the Aydinid Principality, which ruled between the 13th and 14th centuries.
Among the many notable archaeological discoveries in the region, this site adds to a growing list of ancient finds in Asia Minor. Recent finds in Troy and Olympus have also brought new insights into the ancient past, offering a glimpse into the lives of people from thousands of years ago. These discoveries continue to shed light on the region’s rich history and its complex layers of cultural and religious transformation over the centuries.