Remains of Ancient Roman House Discovered in Backyard

Watch as these officials in Turkey take a winding path through the streets and alleys in the city of Izmir to get to a hole in the ground. But that's not just any hole in the ground. They set up a ladder and descend several feet. And then, whoa, that's an ancient Roman column. And they find themselves in the room of a dwelling that's some 2,700 years old. The house belonged to a from the early Roman period. You can see a tile mosaic on the floor. It depicts two winged human figures with roosters. Other architectural details are slowly being unearthed from the site. Reportedly, the dig had not been authorized. And police say they detained three suspects who were trying to excavate the ancient habitation. Izmir, located in western Turkey on the Aegean coast, is home to several fascinating recent archaeological finds. They include a nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater and a communal latrine once thought to be used by actors. A settlement dating back to 2,000 BCE was found, showing that the area was an important trading center in the Bronze Age. And mourning masks, 2,500 years old, were also recently unearthed. The likenesses were used by women from the Ionian culture to symbolize their grief over the death of their warrior husbands. Archaeological work continues in Izmir as the city continues to yield treasures from the distant past. This is Inside Edition Digital.