Archaeologists Clear 3,000 Tons of Debris to Reveal Roman Tunnels Beneath Istanbul's Hagia Sophia
Archaeologists have removed approximately 3,000 tons of debris from underground tunnels beneath Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, revealing previously inaccessible passages dating back 1,600 years. The excavation, which began in February 2025, has uncovered parts of a Roman-era water drainage and distribution network that predate the current landmark, completed in 537 A.D. Researchers have cleared nearly 558 feet of a route connected to a fifth-century street and excavated additional sections of a burial complex discovered in 1946. Plans are underway to open parts of this network to the public through a new exhibition.
