SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- A joint South Korean-Turkish excavation team has unearthed Hellenistic-era mosaic remains believed to be part of a building floor at the Kultepe archaeological site in central Turkey.

Researchers from the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH), Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Ankara University on Thursday announced the discovery of the mosaic floor remains -- believed to have been built during the Hellenistic period from 323 to 30 BC -- at Kultepe.

This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Oct. 29, 2026, shows a view of the excavation site at Kultepe in central Turkey, where a joint Korean-Turkish excavation team has unearthed Hellenistic-era mosaic remains believed to be part of a building floor. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Located about 20 kilometers northeast of Kayseri, Kultepe is the site of an ancient city that flourished from around 3,000 BC through the Roman era.

The finding, achieved after around two years of joint efforts, marks the first time traces of a mosaic-style building floor reflecting construction techniques from the Hellenistic era have been discovered since excavations began at the site in 1948. The discovered section measures 163 centimeters from east to west and 165 cm from north to south.

"Considering the surrounding conditions, the original size of the mosaic is estimated to have been more than 250 cm in both length and width," Kim Dae-young, a curator at the NRICH who participated in the excavation, said.

This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Oct. 29, 2026, shows a building site with a mosaic floor after Korea-Turkey joint excavation work. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Alongside the mosaic floor, researchers from the two countries identified four distinct cultural layers dating to different periods within the Hellenistic era.

The strata discovered with the mosaic floor showed overlapping traces of building sites, floors, walls, waterways and entrance facilities.

The two countries plan to resume their excavation work from May to July next year.

Focusing on the area where the mosaic remains were unearthed, the team plans to closely examine when the building was constructed and how it relates to the surrounding spaces.

This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Oct. 29, 2026, shows a Hellenistic-era cultural layer at the Kultepe archaeological site in central Turkey. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Researchers also plan to analyze various animal bones -- including those of cattle, sheep and wild boars -- found at the site, while conducting 3D measurements of unearthed artifacts and producing measured drawings.

"Further excavations of the Hellenistic-era strata and building sites will allow us to obtain more detailed information," Park Yoon-jung, head of the Archaeological Research Division at the NRICH, said.

This photo, provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Oct. 29, 2026, shows an on-site briefing held at the Kultepe archaeological site in central Turkey, where a joint Korean-Turkish excavation team has unearthed Hellenistic-era mosaic remains. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The team is also preparing a joint exhibition introducing the Kultepe site.

The NRICH and Turkey's culture ministry have agreed to co-host a special exhibition around August next year to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Along with the achievements of the joint excavation, the exhibition is expected to feature rarely seen artifacts, including clay tablets illustrating trade activities and daily life in ancient Anatolia.

Researchers conduct a joint excavation, in this photo provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Oct. 29, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)