For archaeologists and art experts, the cost will be high. Worcester Art Museum Curator of Ancient Art Christine Kondoleon described Zeugma as a “major, world-class site” containing one of the world’s richest collections of Roman mosaics—only a few of which have been uncovered thus far in a frantic salvage effort. “There has been a tragedy, and a second is in progress,” said University of Western Australia archaeologist David Kennedy, who has been helping excavate the site in advance of the flood. The first, he said, was the inundation a decade ago of the imperial Roman capital of Samosata as part of another Turkish dam project. The second is the imminent loss of Zeugma.

“In fifty years our successors, with different philosophies and objectives, will be aghast that we allowed either of these cities to be inundated without major efforts at investigation,” said Kennedy.

A SHORT REPRIEVE

The water has stopped rising for now under a ten-day delay granted by the Turkish government to allow removal of some recently discovered artifacts, including a dozen spectacular mosaics found among the ruins of two ancient hillside villas that once overlooked the river. Resumption has been scheduled for June 28—although the waters could begin rising again sooner if officials determine that the work on the two villas has been completed.

Kennedy estimates that in its day, Zeugma was at least as large as Samosata, which would make it twice the size of Roman London and three and a half times that of ancient Pompeii.

Zeugma has been called a “second Pompeii.” Like the Roman city destroyed by the AD 79 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, Zeugma has lain largely undisturbed except for occasional looters since its abandonment, probably around the time during the Middle Ages when the river crossing was moved downstream. Historians believe a succession of invasion, fire, and earthquake left it covered by thick layers of rubble and dirt.

The pause in the valley’s flooding arose from the discovery of the two villas. They obviously were owned by wealthy citizens of Zeugma—most likely successful merchants or high-ranking Roman military officers. Among other artifacts found were a dozen room-size mosaics depicting scenes from Greek mythology, such as Poseidon with the water deities Thetis and Oceanus; and Perseus rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster. Other objects recovered included a five-foot-high bronze statue of Mars.

The tile tableaus “are in perfect condition, superb workmanship, top quality Roman mosaics,” said the Worcester Art Museum’s Kondoleon, an authority on the subject who recently returned from a brief visit. “Usually they erode over the centuries from exposure to moisture. These are remarkably fresh, brilliantly preserved.”

Supervising Turkish archaeologist Mehmet Onal said hundreds more such villas, containing treasures that can only be imagined, remain locked away under the earth. Many will be lost with the resumption of the dam project, which is expected to inundate a third of the ancient city.

Zeugma—a Greek word meaning “the bridge”—was the location of the first and only permanent span across the Euphrates between the Taurus Mountains and ancient Babylonia. First under Greek and then Roman rule, the city flourished as a fortress, urban center, Roman garrison and key trade crossroads linking East and West.

Historians became increasingly aware of its importance around the turn of the 20th century. But for years they thought the bridge lay at the site of a modern bridge downstream at the town of Birecik. Only since the 1970s has evidence pointed indisputably toward the place now threatened by the dam.

LOOTERS’ PARADISE

The site has been sporadically looted for many decades, some of the mosaics and other works of fine art finding their way into museums in 19th century Britain, France, Germany, and Russia.

Ironically, it was the work of more recent looters that led to the latest discovery of the two villas. One of them had been burned in an ancient fire, leaving glass and bronze household items strewn across the floors.

“In a Western country it would have attracted TV cameras and large funds,” said archaeologist Kennedy, who desperately has been trying to raise money for a substantial dig. “Turkey, however, is like a vast outdoor museum.” Although the villa discoveries did attract some media attention in the country, Kennedy said, until the lake waters began approaching the site, it had received “less than its due, and its implications have been given inadequate international concern.”

Turkey itself, he said, “notwithstanding its strong antiquities legislation and vigorous archaeologists, lacks the resources to meet all of the many daily threats to its material heritage.”

Kondoleon hopes that all the media attention recently focused on the expected loss will result in funding being found to excavate the two-thirds of Zeugma that will remain on dry ground. “Rather than being depressed,” she said, “I think we should be encouraged that the rest of the city can be found.”

Visible features of the place were first recorded systematically during the 1970s. More recently, satellite photography using remote-sensing technology has fixed in greater detail than ever the contours of the valley, including current land use and patterns of vegetation.

Archaeologists have been using these images to help locate ancient sites, such as the Roman military garrison. Coupled with altitude data from Global Positioning satellites, the pictures eventually may be used to produce a three-dimensional model of the valley, especially the part around Zeugma, showing the old city and other sites of archaeological and historical interest.

In the future, a bird’s-eye view of what lies beneath the waves of Turkey’s newest man-made lake may be visible only on a computer screen.

Eye in the Sky is a weekly series that brings you the story behind the headlines using satellite imagery, remote sensing, aerial photography, and maps. This feature is developed by National Geographic News with the sponsorship of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and Earth-Info. Check out maps and imagery at http://www.earth-info.org.