Archaeologists working on a dig in Istanbul say they have found the biggest ever collection of ancient medicine, including what they believe are treatments for depression and heart disease.

Nearly 700 small ceramic bottles containing 'anti-depressant pills and heart disease drugs' were found at Bathonea on the shore of Kucukcekmece Lake in the Avcilar district of Turkey's largest city.

Evidence of the site was first uncovered in 2007, after the waters of the lake, west of Istanbul, were lowered by drought.

Archaeologists believe the findings not only demonstrate the scale of drug production and use in the region, but also show signs of an ancient surprise attack by invaders which caused huge fires.

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Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered nearly 700 small ceramic bottles containing anti-depressant pills and heart disease drugs

THE TOWN OF BATHONEA Archaeologists first discovered the site of Bathonea in 2007 after the waters of Lake Kucukcekmece, west of Istanbul, were lowered by drought. Researchers identified a number of stones stamped with an insignia from Constantinople - the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Work at the site has revealed the remains of a Greek temple, a Byzantine church and a number of artefacts including coind and pottery, dating back as far as the 4th Century BCE. Tests of a layer of charred earth at the site indicates a large fire almost 1,400 years ago. This would tally with the time when an Avar army launched a surprise attack on Constantinople, around 617 CE. Advertisement

Sengul Aydingun, the head of the Bathonea excavations, said the bottles might be more than 1,390 years old as they were found below a fire layer believed to be from the time the Avar Empire attacked Istanbul in 626 CE.

She said that the team had been analysing thousands of pieces of bottle fragments found at the site this year, as well as fragments found in 2013 and 2015.

Dr Aydingun said: 'We thought the number of bottles was 400 but this year we attached together lots of pieces and saw that it was nearly 700.

'This is really high for ancient times.

'This is the highest number of ancient bottles discovered in an archaeological excavation.

'We delivered most of them to the museum.

'There were lots of pestles, mortars and a big cooker around these bottles. It seems that there was a drug production centre here.

'We also found lots of medical tools and spatulas.'

The bottles might be more than 1,390 years old as they were found below a fire layer believed to be from the time the Avar Empire attacked Istanbul in 626 CE

The archaeological site of Bathonea is located on the shore of Kucukcekmece Lake in the Avcilar district of Turkey's largest city (pictured)

Dr Aydingun added: 'The interesting part is that there are some plants in this field where we are working in winter.

'These plants are the core of many drugs.'

The remnants of the contents of the bottles were analysed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).

'They got the formulas of two drugs; Methanone and Phenanthrene,' said Dr Aydingun.

'One of them is an antidepressant and the other is used in cases of heart diseases.'

'The cores of these drugs were obtained from nearby plants. This is a very good result for us,' she added.

But the archaeologists also discovered a large fire layer which have been carbon tested by experts at the Wroclaw Archaeology and Ethnography Institute in Poland.

'The result of the analysis there may add a new page to Istanbul's history,' she said.

The number of bottles was thought to be 400, but this has increased to nearly 700 after fragments were reconstructed (pictured)

'The fire is estimated to have occurred between 620 CE and 640 CE, which is an important date range.

'During these dates, there were attacks against Istanbul from Thrace.

'There was also a serious attack from the Avar Empire in 626 CE.

'There was a large group of structures in the field of Bathonea.

'This structure group was almost demolished by the fire. And the bottles remained under this fire layer. This may be evidence of the Avar attack.

'Historical documents mention this attack, but we have not found archaeological evidence.

'If it becomes clear, the Bathonea excavations will be the first archaeological evidence for the Avar attacks.'

Archaeologists first discovered the site of Bathonea in 2007 after the waters of Lake Kucukcekmece, west of Istanbul, were lowered by drought