The amphorae recovered from excavations conducted in the ancient city of Idyma, located within the borders of the town of Akyaka in Mu & gbreve;la Province, align chronologically with other ceramic finds and archaeological material dated to the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. These finds provide tangible evidence of settlement continuity spanning approximately 2000 years. The amphora finds were unearthed during excavations carried out at various locations within the city. The significant finds come from the slopes of K & uuml;& ccedil;& uuml;k Asartepe to the north of the neighborhood of G & ouml;kova, where a temple (?) and a bouleuterion (?) were excavated in 2022. The catalog is mostly assembled from trenches at & Idot;ni & scedil;dibi locality and the hilltop at Akyaka where the Idyma Castle stands along the banks of Azmak Stream. Additional amphorae were discovered in excavations on the southern slope of the Castle. The absence of amphorae postdating the Hellenistic period in the temple and Bouleuterion area suggests that in the Roman period, the hillside portion of the city was abandoned, and the population migrated to the plain. The walls of the Archaic period, located north of Idyma Castle, along with the Hellenistic-Roman ceramic and amphora finds from the southern slope, provide evidence of the site's usage prior to its transformation into a Byzantine castle. The diminished population and economic potential of the city during the Byzantine period are evidenced by the limited number of amphorae discovered in the castle excavations.
Edremit Gulf is a coastal region located in the northeastern Aegean. During the Pleistocene, it was transformed into a landmass when the sea level fell and subsequently divided into lakes and bays when the sea level rose. It is therefore important to emphasize the region's significance in terms of Paleolithic archaeology. It allows east-west and north-south movements between Anatolia and Europe, with its high ecological value and the natural passages it provides. Furthermore, it is notable for the survival of hominins and the use of existing resources. 29 Paleolithic findspots were detected between 2021 and 2023. Lower Paleolithic data in the region are mostly associated with riverine and marine terraces, with fewer occurrences of geothermal resources. The Acheulean lithic assemblages feature large cutting tools, including handaxes, cleavers, and trihedral picks, as well as pebble core technology and flakes. Middle Paleolithic data is more intense in high-altitude plateaus and plains. The Mousterian assemblages show a variety of retouched tools and extensive use of Levallois and discoid flaking. The Upper and / or Epipaleolithic data in Ayval & imath;k maquis indicate the potential existence of data from these periods in T & uuml;rkiye.
Located in the northeastern corner of the province of Karaman, Boyal & imath;tepe (Kameni) H & ouml;y & uuml;k lies 20 km west of the village of Boyal & imath;. Surveys on the mound (h & ouml;y & uuml;k) yielded pottery from the Iron Age as well as the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The focus of this paper is the Hellenistic and Roman pottery of Boyal & imath;tepe H & ouml;y & uuml;k. Imported pottery found at the mound is few in number; most finds consist of local / regional pottery. Examples of imported vessels are Eastern Sigillata A and African Red Slip Ware. Finds of locally produced pottery include bowls, plates, and cups of various forms. Their common characteristics parallel those of the pottery discovered at the neighboring settlements of S & uuml;leymanhac & imath; H & ouml;y & uuml;k and Sisan H & ouml;y & uuml;k as well as the archaeological site of Cinasun in Lycaonia and Sinab & imath;& ccedil; (Dalisandos) in Isauria. All these indicate local / regional pottery production. Boyal & imath;tepe H & ouml;y & uuml;k is important as a center reflecting the general characteristics of the Hellenistic and Roman pottery in the region.
Cilicia is a very advantageous region for settlement, as its geography offers security and economic prosperity. The distinctive features of the region have caused Cilicia to host many military struggles throughout history. The defensive structures built at strategic points of the region with the desire for dominance were used by different civilizations for centuries for the same reason. With the addition of new defense structures in the 11th-14th centuries to these existing fortifications, the defense system discussed in this study was formed. Despite having more than one cultural layer, the similarities between them are remarkable. The study focuses on the relationship between the similarities of these defense structures and the geography of Cilicia. For this reason, the regional location, settlement decisions and architecture of 66 defensive structures located on different topographies ranging from sea level to 1500 m altitude were examined in the field in terms of their relationship with the geography of Cilicia. The data obtained are presented in this study under the same thematic headings in a comprehensive manner. Thus, it has been revealed that the Cilician defense system does not only consist of buildings, but that the geography of Cilicia is an integral part of this system.
In a new excavation north-west of the Olba aqueduct in Cilicia, a graffiti-like inscription has been found on a cross in a medallion. It is an invocation that was probably carved there by two villagers from Syria. The saints invoked are Konon and Thekla, whose veneration has already been well documented in the Kalykadnos region. The fact that they are invoked together here emphasises the important role that the two played as patron saints of the region.
