New excavation season begins at 5 separate points at Kadıkalesi-Anaia Mound in Kuşadası
This year, research at the Kadıkalesi-Anaia Mound, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, is focusing on the area surrounding the church-monastery complex.
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The archaeological excavationç season for this year has begun at the historic Kadıkalesi-Anaia Moundö ü ü located in the Kuşadası district of Aydın. ç The new season of research, which has been ongoing uninterrupted for 25 years at the mound, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, opened on July 15.ü ç ö ü ü ü ü ç
The excavations at the site in the Kadıkalesi neighborhood of Kuşadası are being carried out by a team of 48 experts with the support of the Kuşadası Municipality.ü ü ü It was announced that the main goal of the work this season is to uncover the architectural fabric surrounding the church-monastery complex.ç ç ç ç ç
WORK AT FIVE DIFFERENT POINTS Ç
Kadıkalesi-Anaia Excavations Scientific Supervisor and Head of Excavations Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Mercangöz stated that they are conducting work at 5 different points in the new excavation season.ç Ç ç ü ü ü ÇMercangöz said that while data regarding the Ottoman, Beyliks, and Byzantine periods were evaluated last year, the aim this year is to understand the relationship between the Early Byzantine and Late Byzantine periods in more detail.ç ö ç ö ç ç ö
ÇPointing out that the Kadıkalesi-Anaia Mound is an important center from an archaeological perspective, Mercangöz stated that the monumental basilica-planned church unearthed at the site was used continuously from the mid-5th century until the 14th century.ö ü ü ü ç ö ç ç ü ü ü ü It was emphasized that this feature distinguishes the structure from many other churches in Anatolia. ö ç
The head of the excavation also reported that there is an ayazma, or a sacred water section, inside the church that is believed to provide healing in the Christian faith.ç ö ü ü ü It was also stated that a rare inscription was found at the site, indicating that Sundays were days of worship.ü ü ü ö â
ÇMercangöz stated that the inscription in question provides important information about the period, noting that it says those who engaged in commercial activities instead of worship on Sundays would be sentenced to death.ö â ö ö â ü ö ü ç ö ÇMercangöz expressed that all these findings place Kadıkalesi in a unique position from a scientific perspective.ü ç