1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

A 1,400-year-old mosaic depicting a man hunting animals was uncovered in Turkey's central Konya province on Thursday.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

The mosaic was first discovered in December when an illegal excavation in the area was reported to authorities.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

The local museum directorate started excavating the mosaic this year, after the ministry gave permission to do so, Yusuf Benli, director of Konya museums told Doğan News Agency.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

The excavated mosaic mentions the name 'Konan', Benli said.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

While authorities are still in the process of excavating the tiles, they presume that the area was used as a villa to accommodate people in the past.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

Benli described how the mosaic depicts a big vase, hanging branches, leafs and pomegranates along with goats and gazelles.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

A man fighting a lion with his spear is depicted on part of the mosaic, but Benli says there is also a second lion which is depicted differently than the first one.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

Experts will try to fix the damaged mosaic once it's completely excavated and it will then be displayed in the local museum.

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion

1,400 year old mosaic shows wide-eyed man fighting a lion