A sarcophagus belonging to the Late Roman period was found after a flood in what is today Turkey's Bodrum district of Muğla.

Experts from the Museums Directorate and the municipality have started working in the area to date the sarcophagus and gather more details.

The sarcophagus and its contents were taken under protection by the Directorate of Museum Directors.

Before 1923 some 3000 Greeks were living in the small city of Muğla (Mogolla) which then belonged to the district of Smyrna. Today, it is the centre of the district of the same name, as well as of Muğla Province, which stretches along Turkey's southwestern coast.

Bodrum Castle, constructed on the site of much earlier ancient fortifications, was built by the Knights of St. John in the 15th century and derives its name from the medieval Greek Petronion. In classical antiquity Bodrum was known as Halikarnassos.

AA