Restoration at Hagia Sophia uncovers underground structures after 3,000 tonnes of debris removed

Restoration and research work continues at Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, where approximately 3,000 tonnes of silt and rubble have been removed from underground structures.

Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, provided local media with new details about the restoration and research underway at the former Byzantine church, according to the publication Turizm Güncel.

The minister explained that the underground work had enabled researchers to access areas that could not previously be investigated.

Infrastructure of ancient Constantinople The research aims to identify the functions of the underground structures and establish how they relate to different historical phases of the monument.

According to the minister, the systems under investigation are providing information about the water supply and drainage infrastructure of ancient Constantinople.

“These structures also provide important information about Istanbul’s historical water management and infrastructure. We are investigating underground systems that served functions such as rainwater drainage and water distribution,” Mehmet Nuri Ersoy explained.

Researchers are paying particular…