THE PREMINALARY REPORT ON THE EARLY IRON STUDIES OF THE AYASULUK EXCAVATIONS AND EVALUATIONS ON THE EARLY IRON AGE OF EPHESUS

Authors : Onur BOZOĞLAN

Pages : 119-154

View : 106 | Download : 3544

Publication Date : 2023-04-30

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Ayasuluk Hill is known for the St. John Basilica, which became a pilgrimage centre during the Byzantine period. Recent excavations have revealed evidence suggesting that the first settlement dates back to the Late Chalcolithic period and that Apaša, an essential political centre in the region during the Late Bronze Age, was located at Ayasuluk Hill. Another significant finding of these excavations is that the earliest inhabitants of the cult lived on Ayasuluk Hill, as attested by Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages artefacts found at the Ephesus Artemis Temple on the hillside. Due to the presence of ceramics that need to be studied other than published ones from previous years, documenting these ceramics and fieldwork is planned within the scope of the Early Iron Age studies. As the classification process of the site’s ceramics is still ongoing, this paper covers a selection of these ceramics. This preliminary report also examines pieces mentioned but not thoroughly examined in previous publications. Evaluations are made on the issues of continuity and migration in the Early Iron Age of Ephesus based on these interpretations of the ceramics and data from previous years’ excavations of the Artemision.
Keywords : Ayasuluk, Ephesus, Early Iron Age, Protogeometric