The sanctuary of Zeus with the double axe is located in Caria in Turkey, 14 kilometers north of Milas, ancient Mylasa. The excavations here by Uppsala University were initiated in 1948 and since 2004 three new research projects are being undertaken. The project director Lars Karlsson is inventorying and excavating in the defensive complexes located around the sanctuary; Jesper Blid is studying the sanctuary in late antiquity and conducting excavations in the West Church Complex; Olivier Henry is documenting and excavating the tombs in the necropoleis around the sanctuary and along the Sacred Way.

The work in the fortresses included this year an extensive excavation in the Tepesar Kale fortress, where the main tower was dated to the Hekatomnid period and the extensions in the west and in the south to the 3rd century B.C. The trial trench from last year in the West Church Complex was extended into a large excavation trench measuring 9 x 12 m. Here the remains of a colonnade from a church of the 5th century turned out to the reused colonnade from a late Classical stoa. A surprising discovery was the wall corner and a door opening of a Middle Byzantine chapel, located north of the early Byzantine church. In the necropolis, a large excavation area was opened along the modern road (= Sacred Way). In total Olivier Henry excavated 29 tombs, of which 11 were untouched. The three sections that will follow have been written by the three respective field directors.

In the field of marble and architectural conservation we initiated a new research on the conservation of marble inscriptions and architectural elements lying in the open air at the site. Conservator Agneta Freccero will in a future report describe this work. The strengthening of the south wall of Andron A was studied by architect Chet Kanra from Stockholm and a new project was planned together with a construction company in Bodrum.

Tepesar Kale (LK)

The name Tepesar is a contraction of Tepe Hisar meaning the ‘hill with the fortress’, and the conspicuous ruins must have suggested to people that a major castle once stood here. The hill is the most prominent and the highest after the Labraunda acropolis hilltop and it is the perfect place for a defensive structure. The view towards the Sanctuary of Labraunda, located 1783 meters from the tower, is superb as is the view down towards Mylasa, the Sacred Way and the fortress of Burgaz Kale, located one further kilometer in the southwest. The central tower is built on a level of 591 meters above sea, compared to the Temple of Zeus, which is located at the level of 650 m above sea.

The defensive complex at Tepesar Kale consists of a main central tower connected with later added extensions in the west and the south (Figs. 2-3). The central tower is built with very large ashlar blocks, measuring 50 cm height and sometimes over 3 meters in length. The measurements of the tower are: 11.52 (east side) x 11.50 (south), 11.40 (north) and 11.65 (west). The masonry consists of a header-and-stretcher technique. At the corners there are double headers in every second course, a building technique typical of Hekatomnid structures.

The later added extensions to the tower project out in the west and in the south. The west extension is located 7.75 meters west of the central tower and was probably connected with it by means of a bridge, as there are no setting beds for blocks in between the buildings. The west tower extension measures 9.91 m in length (E-W) and 9.2 m in width (N-S) (Figs. 7-8). It has a central room and three smaller rooms bordering it in the west and in the south. In the reconstruction drawing we have put a roof over the central room while the smaller surrounding rooms are made into battlements at the level of the roof (see Fig. 3). Many roof-tiles were found in the area but no tile fall can be said to be in situ.

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

The south extension is less well preserved but its shape is similar to the west extension (Fig. 9). It measures 17.30 in length (N-S) and 4.40 m in width. In the interior of the extension there is a central wall and a cross wall. Also here we have restored a roof over the upper northern part of the extension and battlements over the lower part. In the west lower part of this extension, two large door jambs are still standing in situ, framing a door with a width of 1.10 m (the threshold block is marked with the elevation of 585.95 m above sea level on Fig. 2. The entire south extension has a somewhat truncated shape, probably because the east wall should connect with the southwest corner of the central tower, while the west wall is more in line with the walls of the west extension.

Connected with the south extension, on the east side, there are two square rooms separated by a corridor, which also continues along the south side of the central tower (see Fig. 2). The west room was almost completely washed down the slope, only the upper northern corner was preserved in situ. This room measures approximately 5.26 (E-W) x 4.60 (N-S). However, the east room was well preserved and a 60-cm deep excavation could be conducted here. The east room measures 4.70 (E-W) x 4.60 (N-S).

In the centre of the east room we discovered a square block formation, measuring c. 0.66 x 0.66 m (Fig. 4). It was a small oven or furnace for the smelting and heating up of iron. Several pieces of slag and iron were discovered here, as well as many pottery fragments, daub and mud-brick pieces.

Fig. 4

The finds

    A total of 106 finds were catalogued during the excavations this year at Tepesar Kale. 86 of these were pottery fragments, 8 roof-tile pieces, 1 bronze and 3 iron pieces, 3 sling-stones, 3 whetstones, 1 piece of slag and 1 daub fragment.

Nos. 1-3 (Fig. 5). In the central Hekatomnid tower were discovered several fragments of (probably) non-Attic black-gloss vessels. Two of these could be restored to diagnostic shapes. Number 1 is a bolsal. Comparable examples from the Athenian Agora, Olynthos and Halikarnassos date in the period of 380-350 B.C. Nos. 2-3 are two different cup-kantharoi, dated by comparative examples from the Athenian Agora in the period of 340-325 B.C.  

No. 4 (Figs. 5-6). This small vessel is a miniature jug, as it seems to have had only one handle. It measures only 11 cm in height, with a rim diameter of 4.8 cm. The body has a projecting bulge. The profile is very sophisticated and well executed.

No. 5 (Fig. 5). This a flat-footed jug with a vertical strap handle, measuring 11.8 cm in height with a rim diameter of 11.4 cm. It is dated by similar examples from the Athenian Agora to the 3rd century B.C.

No. 6 (Fig. 5). This is a Hellenistic one-handle jug with a high neck decorated with vertical ribbing. It has a preserved height of 19.5 cm and rim diameter of ca. 8 cm.

No. 7 (Fig. 5). Wide-mouthed, balloon-shaped amphora discovered on the floor in the east room. The clay has a strong orange colour. The diameter of the rim opening is 23 cm. 

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

        Various occupations have continuously succeeded each other in the area of the so-called West Church Complex throughout Labraunda’s long history (Fig. 8). The foundations were laid here already in the late Classical period when it seems that a stoa was built flanking the Sacred Way, leading from Mylasa to Labraunda. This area, situated in the vicinity of the monumental southern propylon of the sanctuary, was surely a crowded space where stoas, of commercial nature, must have been much needed. Ceramic evidence from the West Church Complex confirms a continuous use of the stoa up the third or fourth centuries A.D.

Preliminary synopsis on the West Church Complex (Fig. 7.) (J.B.)

Fig. 7

Around 400, the then ruined stoa was rebuilt. The colonnade was mended by reusing columns from other buildings in Labraunda and a concrete foundation was constructed on both sides of the stylobate. The function of the building at this time is uncertain but it could very well be an initial church phase, contemporaneous with the East Church at Labraunda. This architectural development, where an extant portico has been rebuilt into a Christian basilica, has been recorded at various sites around the Mediterranean. Somewhat later in the fifth century, the building was turned into what seems to be a traditional three-aisled basilica. The northern aisle remains but much of what lays to the south was destroyed when the modern road to Labraunda was constructed here in 1960.

Fig. 8

The architectural disposition of the basilica can partly be reconstructed from the excavated finds. The colonnades between aisles and nave carried brick arcades (Fig. 9) and a clerestory with both stained and translucent windowpanes illuminated the interior space (Fig. 10). Like in many other late-antique churches, the northern aisle was given a higher floor level and decorative treatment with mosaics (Fig. 11). To further accentuate the segregation between the aisles and nave, low barriers were built up between the columns. This arrangement finds close parallels within the region. The fifth-century basilica was equipped with liturgical furniture made in the regional manner.

Fig. 9

A templon with marble closure slabs divided the sanctuary from the nave and several fragments of an ambo have also been found (Fig. 12). I believe that the established chronology of Context 4 has provided a more reliable dating for this regional ambo type, originating in pre-Justinianic times.

Fig. 10

Fig. 12

Remnants of glass manufacture in connection to the church have also been found. Perhaps a local glass atelier was needed in Labraunda to provide the churches with lamps and vessels for liturgical use.

In the excavation of 2010 we could also establish twelfth-thirteenth century activity in the West Church Complex. Walls of the characteristic Latmos type signal renewed Byzantine interest in this area, possibly in the form of a small church or chapel replacing the late-antique basilica.

The Campaign in the Necropolis (OH)

    In 2010 we (1) resumed the cleaning/documentation on the already known tombs from the previous survey campaigns, (2) pursued the survey on the western part of the necropolis and (3) opened two trenches in the south-western part of the necropolis. This year, a total of 29 tombs were investigated (Fig. 13), including 18 newly discovered tombs, 11 of which were unplundered. After the 2010 campaign the total number of the tombs around the sanctuary of Labraunda reaches the amount of 104.

Rock-cut sarcophagi

The 10 rock-cut sarcophagi that were explored in the 2010 campaign are all situated in the western area of the necropolis. Although all of them have been conceived on a same pattern (a deep rectangular, 2 storied, pit cut on the top of a boulder and covered by a monolithic gabled lid), one can notice important variations in the geography, topography and architectural features of these tombs.

Fig. 13

Fig. 11

Tomb 23 in particular shows dramatic features. Located some 400 meters west of the sanctuary and 260 meters northwest of the sacred way, it is situated at one of the highest point of the surrounding landscape (Fig. 14). It dominates the terrain and its huge lid is seen from hundreds of meters around. The presence of a second, partly unfinished and broken, lid found in a reverse position in the immediate vicinity of the tomb seems to prove the difficulties of providing a cover to the tomb. This second lid has the exact same length and height as the first one, with a slightly reduced width, and it can be fairly assumed that it was first intended to cover the pit of T23. Both its reverse position and the large crack seem to indicate that this lid fell while being carried into position and replaced by another one, provided with larger and more numerous lifting bosses.

Fig. 14

The case of tomb 17 (Fig. 15), also investigated during the 2010 campaign, offers another kind of unusual features. In this case it seems that the lid came directly from the rock that was cut down the topside of the boulder in order to arrange the platform in which the burial pit has been dug. The northern part of the platform offers, parallel to the pit, a large empty space. This open space shows several regular cutting marks, orthogonally arranged, which might correspond to the extraction of a large unique block which dimensions fit those of the lid itself. If accepted, such interpretation reveals a thoughtful process for the preparation of the tomb: two different teams might have been able to work simultaneously: one team could carve the pit while the second would be cutting the lid. Once the lid was completed the workers would only have to move it laterally on a very short distance.

Fig. 15

Although the lids of the rock-cut sarcophagi offer a fairly good protection to the tombs, an experience carried onsite showed that it still is quite easy, with a modest workforce provided with strong levers, to push the lid aside and therefore enter the pit. Some of the conceivers of the tombs seem to have been aware of this threat and responded by providing other features intending at securing the grave from robbery.

Tomb 18 gives a good example of such features (Fig. 16). The conceivers of this grave carved a deep continuous groove on the four sides of the lower face of the lid (Fig. 17), while the upper edges of the pit were provided with a surrounding projecting band. When put into position, the grooves in the lid would cover the projection of the pit and therefore prevent any attempt of sliding the covering stone. The only possible ways to move the lid out were then to either lifting it by mean of heavy machinery or breaking the contact between the lid and the pit on one of the long sides.

Fig. 16

Fig. 17

In term of retrieved material, the 2010 campaign not only confirmed the constant reuse of rock-cut sarcophagi over a fairly long time span, but also revealed fragments of black-gloss ceramics (fig. 18), indicating that this type of tombs probably started to appear in the Labraunda necropolis in the course of the 4th century BC.

Rock-cut pits

Beside the work on the rock-cut sarcophagi, most of the 2010 necropolis campaign has been concentrated on the opening of three trenches in the southwestern part of the necropolis. Those trenches were decided after the results of the geophysical investigations conducted in 2009.

Two trenches were opened along the path leading from the main road to the stadium (Area 5A), while a third one was implanted along the modern road, some 150 m before reaching the sanctuary (Area 5B).

The trenches in area 5A were negative as no burial could be found (Fig. 19).

Fig. 18

Among them, 11 untouched graves were excavated, while the other 4 were already opened. Most of these tombs were arranged on the same pattern: a rectangular pit carved in the rocky ground and covered by a series of roughly cut slabs (Fig. 21). Only four tombs showed different arrangements: T86 is a cist tomb (Fig. 22), made of four vertical slabs (its cover disappeared); T89 had its pit surrounded by a low Pi shaped wall, made of one single row of four ashlars blocks carefully cut in the local gneiss (Fig. 23); T88 and T93 had a very deep two storied pit, with a lower section closed by a very large slab resting on the narrow projection of the side walls (Fig. 24).

Fig. 21

Fig. 22

Fig. 23

Fig. 24

When found untouched, it appeared that most of the tombs were provided with a couple of drinking vessels: almost systematically a bolsal (Fig. 25) and a water jug (Fig. 26). The latter presented a large variety of shapes and dimensions: amphoriskos in T94, chytra in T91 (Fig. 27); olpe in T88, mushroom water jug in T90; oinochoe in T81, T83 and T90; table amphora in T93 (Fig. 28). The vessels were usually placed near each other at one end of the pit. As often in Labraunda, no remain of bones could be found in the tombs, due to the acidity of the local soil, and it is therefore impossible to decide whether the vessels were placed at the foot or at the head of the deceased.

Fig. 25

Fig. 26

Fig. 27

Fig. 28

An interesting point is to emphasize the poverty of the grave goods. Only 3 of the 11 unplundered tombs had a metallic material: a silver coin in T83 (Fig. 29); fragments of a bronze stemless in T93; and an iron object in T90, possibly a strigil. One tomb revealed a piece of jewelry (a fragment of a glass bead in T91), while four other tombs had no grave goods at all (namely T82, T85, T86 and T92).

Fig. 29

Most interesting is the date of these tombs. A first quick analysis of this material, based on a comparative approach with the material form the Athenian Agora, gives an homogeneous chronological horizon around 425-420 BC, a dating that also fits the Miletus silver coin from T83.

There would be much more to be said about the results of the 2010 campaign in the Labraunda necropolis, and especially about the tombs from Area 5B, in term of burial customs, burial architecture, social background, etc. Such studies will be conducted in the final publication of the Labraunda necropolis. Nonetheless one the most important point revealed by these tombs concerns the chronological development of the necropolis: the burial activity did not start with the transformation of the sanctuary under the Hekatomnids in the 4th century BC but fairly early in the course of the 5th century BC. Following the 2010 results, one of the aims of the 2011 campaign will be to extend the trench in area 5B that will, hopefully, bring as many new elements as it did in 2010.

Publication Work

In 2010 a new book on Labraunda was published (Fig. 30): "Mylasa Labraunda – Milas Çomakdağ". It is the catalogue of an exhibition that was held in Istanbul at Milli Reasurans Art Gallery from 19 January through 27 February 2010. It is the third to be published under "Urban and Rural Architecture in Turkey". The book has been prepared within the context of this project and covers a comprehensive study on Labraunda and the region. The first part of the book contains articles by the Excavation Director of the Uppsala University, Lars Karlsson, excavation team members Olivier Henry and Jesper Blid as well as Prof. Fede Berti (Excavation Director of Iasos), Prof. Peter Ruggendorfer (Alinda Research Team Director), Birgit Öhlinger and Dr. Abdülkadir Baran (Muğla University). The second part of the book is an assessment on the architecture, social history and settlements in Ketendere, Ikiztaş, Sarıkaya-Gökseki villages of Çomakdağ..

Beside this book two new articles on preliminary report appeared in the Journal "Opuscula" in the 2009 and 2010 volumes.

Finally, the edition process of the "Labraunda conference", which was held at Stockholm in 2009, is now in its final phase. The volume of the proceedings should appear in early 2011 in the BOREAS series.

Fig. 30

1. L. Karlsson J. Blid
   

2. O. Henry

Fig. 19

On the other hand, the trench opened in area 5B revealed a dense group of 16 tombs (Fig. 20).

Fig. 20