Archaeologists working in Hadrianopolis, an ancient city in Turkey’s Karabük province, have uncovered a rare 5th-century AD bronze artifact believed to have been used as a beverage filter.

Hadrianopolis, named after the Roman emperor Hadrian, was inhabited from the Late Chalcolithic period through the Roman and Early Byzantine eras before its sudden abandonment. Excavations have revealed numerous public structures, including bathhouses, a theatre, villas, and churches adorned with intricate mosaics. These mosaics depict the biblical rivers Gihon, Pishon, Tigris, and Euphrates, alongside various animals, drawing comparisons to the renowned mosaics of Zeugma.

Ersin Çelikbaş from Karabük University’s archaeology department previously described Hadrianopolis as a “mosaic haven” and one of the most significant cities in the western Black Sea region.

The latest discovery at the site is a 9.2 cm-long conical bronze object featuring a carrying ring. Experts believe this artifact functioned as a filter for drinking liquids, allowing them to pass through while trapping unwanted particles.

“This bronze filter was used repeatedly in antiquity, cleaned, and preserved after each use,” explained Çelikbaş. The presence of a carrying ring indicates that it was a reusable item rather than a disposable one.

The filter was likely attached to the end of reed straws, facilitating cleaner drinking. “While modern society uses plastic straws, the people of Hadrianopolis had a more sustainable approach, employing herbal materials and bronze filters,” Çelikbaş added.

This remarkable find offers fresh insights into ancient drinking customs, highlighting the ingenuity and resourcefulness of past civilizations.