The ancient city of Hadrianoupolis, located in the Black Sea province of Karabük, has a veritable zoo portrayed in ceramic on its crumbling walls, reported the Anatolia news agency.

Speaking to Anatolia, archaeologist and Hadrianoupolis excavations head Ergun Lafl said they have found unique mosaics during excavations at the site.

Noting that Hadrianoupolis, or Paphlagonia in ancient times, was established in the first century B.C. and was inhabited until the eigth century, he said the site was the region's largest province of the period.

He said this year's excavations focused on four major areas called Bath A, Early Byzantine Church A, Byzantine Church B and Rome Tomb, adding: "The excavations we conducted earlier this summer in the center of the ancient city uncovered 13 main sections of a Roman period bath as well as unique mosaics featuring many animal figures, such as horse, elephant, panther and deer. Some of the mosaics depict 12 species of bird. The mosaics are as magnificent as the mosaics unearthed in the ancient city of Zeugma in Gaziantep."

Lafl said the depictions of animal figures on mosaics were excellent and unique samples of mosaic art from the late Roman period.

"The mosaics show the importance of the region in terms of late Roman period mosaic art," he added.