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Airai

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Airai
Type:
City
Altitude:
m
Region:
Aegean
Province:
Izmir
District:
Urla
Village:
Demirci
Investigation Method:
Survey
Period:
Archaic Classical Geometric

     


The ancient city of Airai lying on the peninsula so called Ada on the coast to the south of the Demirci Village was identified by G. Weber and J. Keil at the beginning of the century. The city walls and foundation of the houses were determined and delienated during the survey conducted in the peninsula. The ancient settlement lies on the peninsula and the flat southern section. The city walls, however, are rather located on the northern section. Based on the present foundations of the houses, the city of Airai had an irregular city plan. However, almost all of the houses faced south, and they have a dimension of 17x17 m and wall thickness of 50 cm. Particularly the house B6 is compared with the pastas type of houses in Olynthus in plan and size to a great extent. The sherds collected from the surface range from the Late Geometric Period to the Early 4th Century BC. Absence of any late finds indicates an interruption of the occupation during the 4th century BC on the peninsula. Thus, the house walls found on the surface should have been dated, at earliest, back to 4th century BC. Some illicitly dug pits and column drums are observed on the summit of the peninsula. Also found are many disturbed graves on the slopes, which were used as necropolis area to the north of the city. Fragments of Klazomenai type of painted sarcophagi from the 6th century BC were uncovered in the cemetery [Meriç 1987:303]. Among the finds collected by N. Tuna during the surveys conducted in 1985-1986 are geometric pottery, decorated cups such as Ioanian bird bowls of Archaic Age ware as well as more simple decorated specimens of banded pottery. The finds include very restricted number of Attic ware, but abundant number of local pottery of the Classical Period. Another interesting group of finds uncovered here includes brazier fragments from the Classical Period. Many kiln slags, probably belonging to the iron workshops, were found on the southeastern skirts of the settlement. The area where the small peninsula is connected with an isthmus have been heavily destroyed mainly by illicit diggings in the early 1970s. It was found out that this section was heavily used as a necropolis area. Among the material collected are profiled specimens of the Klazomenai sarcophagi. The Klazomenai sarcophagi found on the surface are accompanied with inhumated type of graves, which were carved into the bedrock. Also, a restricted number of tumulus type of graves are found in the neighbourhood [Tuna 1988:309].
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