A group of archaeologists discovered a 1,400-year-old site under a layer of ash in Turkey’s ancient city of Ephesus. This part of a city is believed to have been destroyed by a fire in 614 or 615 AD, but the true cause remains a mystery.
The researchers are part of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, which announced the operation Friday 28. The area is located in Domitian Square, adjacent to the Upper Agora, the political center of the city of Rome.
The purpose of the excavations is to understand the change in Ephesus between the Roman Empire and Late Antiquity.
In the statement, the person responsible for the project since 2009, saber ladstatter, He said they were surprised to find the ancient complex in good repair condition. This condition helps to understand “the exact timing of the demolition and the implications on urban history that can be deduced from it.”
The site also has Byzantine commercial and gastronomic facilities covering an area of approximately 170 m². The team also found at least 700 ancient coins, indicating that the structure was functioning as far back as 614 or 615 AD.
According to Sabine, the complex also had rooms up to 3.4 meters high. These include a kitchen, cellar, tavern, gift shop for Christian pilgrims and a workshop with sales area. In this setting, there were several pottery pieces, such as bowls with shellfish or oyster remains, as well as amphorae filled with salted fish.
Archaeologists were also surprised by the gold jewelry, peach seeds, almonds and olives, as well as charred peas and vegetables. Among the accessories were 600 bottles that were sold to Christian pilgrims and could be worn around the neck.
Image: OeAW-OeAI/Niki Gail
“Archaeological findings show us massive fire destruction that should have been sudden, dramatic and significant,” said Sabine Ladstätter. “It will no longer be possible to determine the exact date of destruction, but evaluation of the fruits found will at least clarify the season.”
mysteries
The reason for the destruction of Ephesus remains a mystery. The scientists ruled out the possibility that an earthquake was responsible for the destruction, as no human remains, no changes in ground height and walls were detected. However, several arrowheads and spearheads were found in the area, indicating a military conflict.
“While it has been possible to observe from archaeological evidence that the city shrank rapidly in the 7th century and the standard of living dropped significantly, the reasons for this were unclear,” the expedition leader said. Said.
Sabine Ladstatter discusses the hypothesis that the city of Ephesus was linked to the Sassanid wars involving the ancient Persians.
The theory is supported by the identification of coins dating to the same period as Ephesus, which was unearthed at Sardis, about 100 kilometers away, and attesting to the destruction of the Turkish city. These valuables mark the invasions of Western Asia Minor by the Persians. However, the idea that there was a conflict between the two peoples still casts doubt on researchers.
source: Noticias
