©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Sardis

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Sardis
Type:
 Flat Settlement
Altitude:
 100 m
Region:
 Aegean
Province:
 Manisa
District:
 Salihli
Village:
 Sardmustafa
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 Protogeometric Geometric Archaic Classical

     

Location: It is situated on the Izmir-Ankara motorway to the south of the Ahmetli District, 9 km west of the Salihli District in Manisa.
Geography and Environment: It was founded on and around a hill on the northern skirt of the Mount Bozdag (Tmolus) in the Pactolus (Sart) Brook Valley in the Gediz (Hermus) Plain. The acropolis section is 400 m high above the plain level [Umar 2001:62-65].
History:
Research and Excavation: The Sardis excavations were conducted by H.C. Butler between 1910-14, and by G.M.A. Hanfmann between 1958 and 1976. Excavations were carried out by a team led by C.H. Greenewalt between the years 1977 and 2007. Since 2008, N.D. Cahill has been leading the excavations at Sardis.
Stratigraphy: Stratification was identified at certain points of the city and its vicinity, which also allowed archaeological dating. Remains of settlements dating from the 8th century BC to the Byzantine Period are observed. Although there is lack of finds dating back to the 12-7th century BC, it is known that the site had been occupied during that period [Herodotus 2002:I, 7]. Level 4, Protogeometric Period 1000-850 BC Level 5, Geometric Period 850 -700 BC Level 6, Lydia III Period 700-650 BC Level 7, Lydia II Period 650-600 BC Level 8, Lydia I Period 600-547 BC; in this section 5 out of 8 building levels belong to the Iron Age [Hanfmann 1983:26].
Small Finds: Architecture: The lower city is enclosed by a 3.5 km long and 20 m thick wall. The extant height of the wall is 10 m while the original height was probably around 15 m. This defense wall covers an area of ca. 250 to 320 acres, and it was built considering topography of the natural setting. There are no walls earlier than these walls which were built during the second half of the 7th century BC. Sardis was attacked by the Cimmerians in 657 BC, and although the excavations didn't verify it yet, it is observed that the city walls were built during the second half of the 7th century BC [Durmus 1997:273]. Other than this fortification made of mudbrick blocks and massive stone blocks at certain points over a high main wall made of stone, there are also retaining walls constructed with compressed soil. These walls were added in the 6th century BC to reinforce the thickness and solidness of the walls [Sevin 2003a:289]. The wall was destroyed during the Persian attacks at the end of the 6th century BC, and it was constructed using quartz, sand and local limestones in rectagonal and polygonal technique. The limestone terraces in monumental size on the northeastern skirt of the fortification wall indicate significance of the region [Sevin 2003a:288]. The defense wall is pierced by a gate providing access into the city from the west. With an elaborate masonry, the gate was made of limestones and sandstones. The gate dated to the late 7th century BC and early 6th century BC was demolished by Croesus in 547 BC [Greenewalt 2003]. It was walled up, and a new gate was erected. While the different roads reaching to that gate date back as early as the 8th century BC, no structure related with defense during that period was unearthed [Greenewalt 2003:482]. A portion of the fortification was built during the Heraklid Dynasty Period by King Meles. No walls were erected on very steep sections [Herodotus 2002:I, 84]. In the northern section of the fortress, there are three terrace walls made of limestones and sandstones dating to the 6th century BC. Presence of stairs reaching to these terraces from outside suggest a public building rather than a structure related with the defense. There is a tunnel below the terrace walls with uncertain period and purpose. The area between the square in front of the Artemis Temple and the section between the Pactolus River is called "North Pactolus". The earliest find at this section is the gold refining center on the eastern bank of the Pactolus River. In that area dating to the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC, workshops consisting of stone walls and roofs covered with reeds were uncovered. At the center of one of these workshop is an altar with lion protomes. Based on these seated lion statues, it is assumed that the altar was dedicated to the goddess Cybele [Sevin 2003a:291]. Among the buildings there are in situ hearths [Umar 2001:137]. About 200-300 cupellation hearths with a diameter of 15-20 cm plastered with clay and bone ashes on the inside as well as blowpipes and blower mouths were uncovered. Ancient sources mention a Temple of Cybele that was destroyed during the Ionian Revolt in 499 BC. No information is available about this early period temple other than the stone blocks reused for construction of the synagogue. The formation of the Artemis cult is attributed to the relations with Ephesus. The Altar of Artemis is located on the eastern bank of Pactolus Brook. It is known that the altar was present before the Temple of Artemis [Xenephon 1998:1VI-6, 7]. Since it was built before the temple, it is located on the western end of the temple unlike the Artemis Cult. The present appearance probably was reached following the expansions during the construction of the temple. In the earlier period, it was most likely smaller and was made of limestone [Umar 2001:141]. The earliers known date for the altar is the Cyrus (407-400 BC) period [Xenephon 1998: 1VI-6, 7]. The renewed stairs of the altar made of red sandstone that measure 21x11 m in dimensions are west-oriented and has nine steps [Akurgal 2000:35]. The domestic buildings built for public consist of an architecture including stone foundations, mudbrick walls and reed roofs. They usually have a simple plan measuring 8 x3.2 m in dimensions, with a single room and a rectangular plan [Sevin 2003a:289]. With a packed earth floor, these houses were accessed through a door piercing their long wall. Some of these domestic buildings with cellar and hearth have an open section for sunlight. After the 6th century BC, paint decorations, reliefs and coatings are observed in houses. The houses made of mudbrick walls on stone foundations and colored roof tiles as well as richly decorated façades represent residential architecture of the wealthy class. To the west of the city wall is a domestic structure with two rooms that was subject to destruction by the Persians. With a L-shaped open courtyard between a small room in square plan and a larger room in rectangular plan, it has one door accessing into small room, and two doors into the rectangular room. Recovery of hearths and utencils in the courtyard suggests that it was used as a kitchen. Presence of wooden beams that supported the stone building is known. To the south of the Ankara-Izmir motorway lies a structure known as "House of Bronzes" across the Synagogue. Based on the analysis on animal bones recovered here, the building was dated to the Lydian Kingdom Period and the Persian Period [Doguer 1966:57-64]. Pottery: Lydian pottery was locally produced for non-commercial use. The geometric decorated pottery under Greek influence during the 8th century BC takes a unique style by leaving the East Orientalizing features during the 6th century BC. The duck and boat shaped vessels are such unique examples of Lydian pottery. The lydion which became a cosmetic trade symbol is among the significant finds at Sardis. Also found are bichrome, marble-like paint decorations in veins, Fikellura type of specimens under the influence of Ionian style. The Ephesus group of ceramic finds uncovered at numerous centers are products of Sardis. A black-figure kylix recovered from the acropolis and Attic black glazed ceramics uncovered within the ruins of the city wall, six Attic black figure vases, and Corinthian, East Greek and Fikellura ceramics contribute to the dating [Greenewalt 1997:14]. The terra cotta grinding stones, loom weights, trays and glass beads were found in situ inside a building which suffered a great fire during the Persian attack in the acropolis. An orientalizing dinos which depicts a dog headed sea monster on another building that was burnt similarly during the Persian attack helps to date the structure. Another orientalizing dinos recovered here depicts deers and lions within two bands. Metal: Presence of a bone carving workshop producing animal figures from the late 7th century BC to the early 6th century is known at Sardis [Sevin 2003a:295]. Fifty pieces of golden earrings and the stone mouldings used for their casting uncovered during the excavations indicate a gold refinery industry. A total of 136 arrowheads, 107 in iron and 29 in bronze are 3.5 cm in lenght except two which are 10 cm long each. They all have sockets for shafts. An iron sword was found on the floor below the destruction deposit 130 m to the south of the gate. A sickle was found along with a group of other iron items on the same floor 18 m to the south of this sword. This group of finds include some non-military items such as a rectangular strainer in addition to a spoke for the rim of a carriage, nails and similar finds. Figurine: An ivory deer figurine that was dated to the 7th century BC was probably an original item that fell from the Cimmerians during an attack or a copy of it. A man figurine uncovered in half depicted with a beard and long hair, and made of terra cotta and decorated with red and black paints is and important find in respect to the detailed features [Umar 2001:9]. Sculpture/Relief: A marble relief of the Goddess Kuvava (Cybele) standing in front of a temple model in the Ionian order uncovered at Sardis is dated to the 7th century BC [Sevin 2003a:287]. Coins: The coin was first minted at Sardis during the 7th century BC. It is known that the simple, lozenge shaped electrum coins of the reign of King Alyattes (610-560 BC) were minted with measurement units by pure gold and silver during the reign of Croesus (560-546 BC) based on the finds from the gold refinery center. The earliest coin bearing head of a lion with an open mouth and head of a goat on the observe is dated to the 6th century BC. Epigraphical Material: The epiraphical records in Lydian language existing since the 6th century BC are limited in number, and they are from the late period. Out of these records, almost all of them being found at Sardis, the one at the Temple of Artemis (4th century BC) is both in Lydian and Greek. Dedicated to Artemis Nana, it is a copy of a Roman inscription from 427 BC. The inscription mentions a regulation that prohibits participation in local cults to those engaged in Persian cult. Human Remains: A skeleton of a 23-25 year-old and 1.75 m tall man was found on the fortifications, presumably died during a battle. The highly corroded helmet found here may have belonged to this soldier. Other: With its fabrics embroidered with gold thread and handwoven carpets as seen in the Persian palaces, Sardis plays an important role in the textile production during the Ancient Period. The abundant number loom weights unearthed during the excavations is a clear evidence to this role.
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating:


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