Climate Change Exposes Submerged Basilica of Saint Neophytos in Turkey Climate change and drought are exposing the submerged Basilica of Saint Neophytos in Lake İznik, Turkey, revealing ancient ruins but threatening their survival as they deteriorate. Climate change is causing once-submerged archaeological sites in Turkey to emerge, including the Basilica of Saint Neophytos, which was discovered beneath Lake İznik. The basilica, a candidate for the site of the First Council of Nicaea, now sits on dry ground due to receding waters. This exposure, while revealing, poses new threats to the preservation of these ancient structures. In 2014, Mustafa Şahin, founder of Turkey's first underwater archaeology department, discovered the basilica while diving in Lake İznik. At the time, he planned to create an underwater museum. However, as the lake began to recede in 2020, the basilica emerged on land, forcing a shift from underwater excavation to land-based work.Climate Change and Drought in TurkeyTurkey is facing severe drought and desertification, with 88 percent of the country at risk. According to the United Nations, climate change and pollution are major causes. Last year saw one of the most severe droughts in recent history, leading to the receding of lakes and reservoirs. This has exposed a host of archaeological finds, from ancient docks in Sapanca Lake to Neolithic-era monoliths near Adıyaman.The receding waters have revealed close to 75 percent of sites are in the process of disappearing, many within the last decade. This trend is not unique to Turkey but is particularly dire there. For archaeologists, the water emergency is double-edged: it presents new discoveries but also challenges in conservation.Basilica of Saint Neophytos and Its SignificanceThe Basilica of Saint Neophytos, also known as the Basilica of the Holy Fathers, is located outside the city walls of ancient Nicaea. Of the 14 church-like structures found in the area, it is considered the most likely site of the first and seventh meetings of the Council of Nicaea. Sarah Porter, an assistant professor at Gonzaga University, notes that it is unique because it has material dating to the fourth century, placing it near the time of the council.When Şahin's team first excavated, locals had known of the ruins for years, with children swimming over the submerged walls. The plan for an underwater museum became unnecessary as the lake shore shrank inward by over a mile in some areas. Now, parts of the lakebed sprout grass, and the basilica is fully exposed.Challenges in Preserving Exposed Archaeological SitesExperts face new challenges in conserving the sites. Şahin says that excavating on land is very difficult compared to underwater. Gül Yurun Mavinil, an archaeologist in Çanakkale, explains that the abrupt change in microclimate causes stone and wooden structures to deteriorate rapidly upon contact with air and sunlight. The transition from a highly humid to a dry environment leads to cracking and rot, and leaves sites vulnerable to looting.Mehmet Alkan, head of the Adıyaman Museum, describes the situation as both upsetting and pleasing: while it negatively impacts agriculture, it presents new archaeological discoveries. The rapid emergence of sites within the last decade has forced archaeologists to adapt their methods and focus on preservation.Underwater archaeology has been important in Turkey since the 1960s, due to its coastline and shifting ground. Vasıf Şahoğlu, a professor at Ankara University, notes that the discipline developed in Turkey but was focused on underwater work. Now, the rapid receding of lakes is new, and experts are grappling with how to protect these exposed ruins for the future.