20-Year Silence Ends in Yozgat: Ancient Roman Pool Refills with Water

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A 2,000-year-old Roman pool in Yozgat's Sarıkaya district has refilled after decades of drought, highlighting the region's ancient engineering and thermal heritage.

20-Year Silence Ends in Yozgat: Ancient Roman Pool Refills with Water
Image credit: Mersinhaber

In the Sarıkaya district of Yozgat, renowned for its thermal springs, a 2,000-year-old ancient pool located within the boundaries of Kargalık village has met with water once again after a long hiatus. Dating back to the Roman Empire, this structure served the water needs of ancient settlements in the region and sheds light on Anatolian engineering history with its ashlar masonry.

Roman Engineering Defying Time

Located in the Kargalık village area, the ancient pool features a reservoir constructed with meticulously processed natural stone blocks. Investigations reveal a seven-step staircase descending into the pool, reflecting the most characteristic features of the period's stonemasonry [1]. Local residents state that the pool had been dry for approximately 20 years, but thanks to this year's heavy precipitation, the water has resurfaced.

Regional Context and Thermal Heritage

While the Sarıkaya district is primarily known for the 'Basilica Therma' (King's Daughter) Roman Bath, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, finds such as this in surrounding villages prove that the region was an extensive center for healing and accommodation in antiquity [2]. Historical data suggests that such structures were used not only for water storage but also as part of social and religious rituals [3].

History in the Memory of Villagers

İsmail Turhan, a village resident, expressed his happiness at seeing the stories he heard from his elders come true today, noting that the water was used to irrigate fields in the past. With the pool coming back to life, local residents have begun taking steps for landscaping and conservation efforts. The aim is to preserve this ancient remnant as one of the hidden treasures that will enhance Yozgat's cultural tourism potential.

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Image & News Source: Mersinhaber / mersinhaber.com