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The Excavations at Sagalassos 1991

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2015

Marc Waelkens ,
Edwin Owens ,
Ann Hasendonckx  and
Burcu Arikan
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Extract

During 1991 large-scale excavations at Sagalassos continued for their second season from 13 July until 5 September. The work was directed by Professor Marc Waelkens (Dept. of Archaeology, Catholic University of Leuven). A total of 42 scientists from various countries (Belgium, Turkey, Great Britain, Germany and Portugal) as well as 25 local workmen (supervised by Mr. Ali Toprak) carried out the work. The team included 20 archaeologists, 4 illustrators (supervised by G. Evsever and R. Kotsch), 4 architect-restorers (directed by Prof. R. Lemaire and Dr. K. Van Balen), 3 cartographers (directed by Prof. F Depuydt), 2 geologists (directed by Prof. W. Viaene), 2 geomorphologists (Prof. J. De Ploey and Prof. E. Paulissen), 1 archaeozoologist (Dr. W. Van Neer), 1 anthropologist (Dr. Chr. Charlier), 2 restorers for the small finds (directed by Miss K. Norman) and 1 photographer (P. Stuyven). The Turkish Antiquities Department was represented by Muhammet Alkan from the Sivas Museum, whom we thank for his help. Financial support came from the Research Council of the Catholic University of Leuven, the Belgian Fund for Collective Fundamental Research (F.K.F.O.), the Belgian Programme on Interuniversity Poles of Attraction (I.U.A.P. no 28), the National Bank of Belgium, the ASLK/CGER Bank, the tour operator ORION, the car rental company Interleasing, the restoration company E. G. Verstraete & Vanhecke N. V., Agfa-Gevaert films and the association “Friends of Sagalassos”.

Type
Research Article
Information
Anatolian Studies , Volume 42 , December 1992 , pp. 79 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © The British Institute at Ankara 1992

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References

1 For a report on the first excavation season see Waelkens, M., Harmankaya, Ali and Viaene, W., AS XLI (1991), 197–213Google Scholar.

2 This text presents research results of the Belgian Programme on Interuniversity Poles of Attraction initiated by the Belgian State, Prime Minister's Office, Science Policy Programming. The scientific responsibility is assumed by its authors.

3 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 197–203, figs. 1–4, pl. XXXVIIGoogle Scholar.

4 See on this purpose Coulton, J. J., The Architectural Development of the Greek Stoa, Oxford 1976, 125Google Scholar.

5 Compare J. J. Coulton, 135–6.

6 See Owens, E. in AS XL (1990), 196–7Google Scholar.

7 Among other things this fill contained a locally produced wheelmade lamp (SA 91 N 373–1), identified by I. Roovers as belonging to the Sagalassian type 1 Lw 100, which may have been produced between the third and the first century B.C., as well as two coins dated by S. Scheers to the second–first century B.C., the provenance of one of which is still unidentified (SA 91 N 498), while the other one was minted at Perge (SA 91 N 497). Yet there were also an Imperial coin from Prymnessos (SA 91 N 398) and a Hadrianic one from Perge (SA 91 N 519). The local pottery and terracotta figurines discovered in the same fill, are also late Hellenistic-Imperial, but at this stage do not allow yet a precise date. The coins and lamps of this fill are published by respectively Scheers, S. and Roovers, I. in Waelkens, M. (ed.), Sagalassos I (1986–91). First Report on the Surveys and Excavations, Leuven, 1992 (in press)Google Scholar.

8 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 197–203Google Scholar.

9 The fragment from Sagalassos certainly is later than a horse head from Sardis, dated to the third-second century B.C. (Reeder, E. D., Hellenistic Art in the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore 1988, 103 no. 1–3, pl. 26Google Scholar). The treatment of the skin folds and especially the setting of the eyes can best be compared with a group of horses from Lanuvium dated to the first half of the first century B.C. (perhaps 65–2 B.C.) and with a horse head from Sentinum dated around the middle of the first century B.C. (Bergemann, J., Römische Reiterstatuen. Ehrendenkmäler im öffentlichen Bereich. Mainz 1990, 11. 99–100Google Scholar no. P 44, pl. Id, 75 a–b).

10 On the popularity of dancing maenads in Pergamene art, see W. Fuchs, Die Vorbilder der neuattischen Reliefs (20. Erg. H. Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts), Berlin 1959, 152 f.Google Scholar The Sagalassos dancers certainly are not maenads, but the theme of dancing females allowed a great flexibility, since the transformation of almost any dancing female into a maenad could be achieved merely by the addition of a thyrsos or a dismembered animal carcass. The opposite clearly was also true. See, Touchette, L.-A., Hellenistic and Classical Dancing Maenads. Copies of the Roman Period, in Akten des XIII. Internationalen Kongresses für Klassische Archäologie Berlin 1988. Mainz 1990, 513Google Scholar.

11 Fleischer, R., JÖAI 50 (1972–1973), 117–25Google Scholar; id., Antike Welt 12 (1981), 3–16; id., AA 1984, 141–4.

12 See for instance Schmidt, S., Hellenistische Grabreliefs. Typologische und chronologische Beobachtungen, Köln-Wien 1991, 94, figs. 11–12CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

13 See Schäfer, J., Hellenistische Keramik aus Pergamon (Pergamenische Forschungen 2). Berlin 1968, 73–4, pl. 22 (especially fragment E 22)Google Scholar.

14 See for instance W. Fuchs, 39, pl. 7 a–c (maenad relief from the Museo Torlonia) and 153 (Pergamon); Froning, H., Marmor Schmuckreliefs mit griechischen Mythen im 1. Jh. v. Chr., Mainz 1981, 125–31, pl. 42–5Google Scholar (Via Praenestina).

15 See Waelkens, M., AS. XLI (1991), 204Google Scholar.

16 In fact, these layers contained moulds and clay fragments, most probably coming from the potter's quarter.

17 Beside glass fragments dated by Chr. Lightfoot between the second and the fourth century A.D., the chip layer also contained a coin of Theodosius I dated A.D. 379–83 (SA 90 N 191) and another one of Arcadius dated A.D. 388–95 (SA 90 N 101). The layer with medium-sized stones above it possessed a.o. glass fragments from the second and third centuries A.D. as well as coins from the third quarter of the fourth century A.D. (SA 91 N 127: a coin of Constantius II, dated A.D. 355–61; SA 91 N 73: a coin of Valens, dated A.D. 367–75; there was also a first century B.C. coin from Attaleia: SA 90 N 214). The layer above it, composed of a mixture of earth and stones, contained glass fragments dated between the first and the fourth centuries A.D., a follis of Licinius II, dated A.D. 317 (SA 90 N 41) and a coin minted by Constantius II, dated A.D. 351–55 (SA 90 N 40). The date of the coins apparently suggests a pattern, with older materials being found in the upper layers. This reversed stratigraphy thus confirms the erosion activity, more recent layers being eroded and transported first. All coins were identified and will be published by S. Scheers. See note 7.

18 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 203–4, fig. 5Google Scholar.

19 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 203, pl. XXXVIIIbGoogle Scholar.

20 See Balty, J., Mosaīques de Syrie, Brussels 1977, 90Google Scholar. Good parallels in this catalogue can be found on pages 75 no. 32; 78 no. 34; 89 no. 39 and 91 no. 40 (all dated to the third quarter of the fourth century A.D., most of them even during the reign of Julian).

21 Antakya, inventory no. 907–12. See Hatay Museum and Environs (catalogue). Ankara s.d., 22 no. 6 (the so-called Ananeosis mosaic).

22 See J. Balty, 8.

23 See Neal, D. S., Roman Mosaics in Britain. London 1981. 41Google Scholar no. 5; 42 no. 6; 79 no. 46: 97 no. 70; 99 no. 72; 112 no. 84; Johnson, P., Romano-British Mosaics. Aylesbury 1982, 49, pl. 38Google Scholar.

24 See D. S. Neal, 48 no. 12; 109 no. 83.

25 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 203Google Scholar.

26 Identified by S. Scheers: a coin of Gallienus, dated to A.D. 260–8 (SA 91 N 445), and a coin of Constantius II, dated to A.D. 355–61 (SA 91 N 480).

27 Identified by S. Scheers: the oldest one is a coin from Baris minted under Volusianus and dated to A.D. 251–3 (SA 91 N 388). Another one belongs to Galerius and is dated A.D. 293–5/6 (SA 91 N 359). The most recent coin was minted during the reign of Honorius and Arcadius and is dated around A.D. 395–408 (SA 91 N 559).

28 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 203Google Scholar.

29 Identified by I. Roovers as belonging to the Sagalassian wheelmade type of lamps 1 Lw 110 (SA 91 N 109). See note 7.

30 SA 91 N 107 identified by S. Scheers.

31 The second layer from above contained a.o. two coins issued by Constantius II, respectively dated to A.D. 346–61 (SA 91 N 501) and to A.D. 355–61 (SA 91 N 211). The stratum below it produced a follis minted by Constantinus I for Fausta in A.D. 325–6 (SA 90 N 49) and another fourth century, otherwise unidentified coin (SA 90 N 84).

32 See on this subject, Belke, K. and Mersich, N., Phrygien und Pisidien (Tabula Imperii Byzantine 7), Wien 1990, 79–81Google Scholar.

33 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 205–6Google Scholar.

34 The coins identified by S. Scheers could be dated to A.D. 270–2 (SA 91 DT 303: Aurelian), A.D. 341–6 (SA 91 DT 248: Constantius II), A.D. 361–3 (SA91 DT 348: Julian) and to A.D. 395–408 (SA 91 DT 351: Arcadius and Honorius). An unidentified bronze coin (SA 91 DT 508) most probably should be dated between the first and third century A.D.

35 They have been studied by I. Roovers: SA 91 DT 202, SA 91 DT 354 and SA 91 DT 381–5 (local mouldmade type 1 Lm 100 or variants of it, dated between the third and the middle of the fifth century A.D.); SA 91 DT 381–4 (local type 1 Lm 111, whose parallels seem to suggest a date between the third and the seventh/eighth century A.D.).

36 Identified by S. Scheers: SA 91 DT 549: coin of Theodosius I, dated to A.D. 393–5; SA 91 DT 552: coin of Honorius, dated to A.D. 395–408.

37 Dated by S. Scheers: SA 91 DT 494.

38 SA 91 DT 546, dated by S. Scheers.

39 See Mitchell, S.–Waelkens, M., AS XXXVII (1987), 42–3Google Scholar.

40 It can be compared with the podium of the early Imperial temple near the theatre at Side. See Ward-Perkins, J. B., Roman Imperial Architecture, Harmondsworth 1981, 299 fig. 195aGoogle Scholar.

41 Robert, L., Noms indigènes dans l'Asie Mineure gréco-romaine, Paris 1963, 329 note 3Google Scholar.

42 See Belke, K. and Mersich, N., Phrygien und Pisidien (Tabula Imperii Byzantini 7), Wien 1990, 76Google Scholar. It is not clear whether or not Sagalassos could have been threatened by the Isaurian raiders who captured nearby Cremna before they were defeated by Probus's troops in A.D. 278. See Mitchell, S., AS XXXVIII (1988), 57–8Google Scholar.

43 The dismantling of the basilica façade must have occurred after the construction of the primitive building against its east wall, which incorporated the still standing east end of the basilica front. On the other hand it is unlikely that this activity happened after the destruction of that building, since the stone robbery clearly respected it.

44 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 206–12, fig. 7Google Scholar.

45 See Waelkens, M., AS XLI (1991), 210–3Google Scholar.

46 Similar, yet less sagging shapes, have been recovered from middle to late Hellenistic levels at Aşvan Kale and at Büyüktepe-Höyük. See Mitchell, S., Aşvan Kale: Keban Rescue Excavations, Eastern Anatolia. I. Hellenistic, Roman and Islamic Sites (BAR Intern. Ser. 80), Oxford 1980, 41, 255, figs. 21, 3; 22, 10 and 31, 299)Google Scholar; Sagona, A., Pemberton, E. and McPhee, I., AS XLI (1990), 153–4, 156 figs 6, 1Google Scholar; 6, 4 and 6, 6. The same sagging, lightly carinated shape also occurs at Failaka (but there with two handles): Hannestad, L., The Hellenistic Pottery from Failaka (Ikaros. The Hellenistic Settlements), Aarhus 1983, vol. 2, 2, 63 pl. 60, 629–30Google Scholar.

47 See Dyson, S., The Excavations at Dura-Europos. Final Report IV. Part 1.3. The Commonware Pottery. The Brittle Ware. New Haven 1968, 5 fig. 1, 1Google Scholar; L. Hannestad, 28–30, 57 pls. 19, 203; 22, 244; 46, 455: Hannestad, L. in Akten des XIII. Internationalen Kongresses für Klassische Archäologie. Berlin 1988. Mainz 1990, 181–2 fig. 2, 14Google Scholar.

48 See Waelkens, M., AS XXXIX (1989), 73–4Google Scholar.

49 All these topics are being published in the first monograph on Sagalassos now in press.