Turkish archaeologists have unearthed Byzantine sites in the ancient city of Assos. In the ruins of residential buildings, they managed to find a large number of ceramic dishes and utensils, including a terracotta grill. Other artifacts include a large iron knife, similar to a machete, and a metal ax. All items date back to the 7th century AD. The finds are reported by the Hürriyet Daily News.
On the western coast of modern Turkey, in the area of the city of Canakkale, the ancient city of Assos was located. Ancient sources report that this city was founded by migrants from the island of Lesvos in the 7th century BC, although settlements on this place existed at an earlier time. In the 6th century BC Assos submitted to Lydia, and already in the 5th century BC it was conquered by the Persian king Cyrus II. Subsequently, the city repeatedly became independent and was again subjugated by various empires, including the Roman one. The city did not lose its importance during the Byzantine times, remaining one of the centers of regional trade.
The ancient city was surrounded by a well-preserved fortress wall, which reached a height of 12 meters and stretched over a distance of more than three kilometers. The first archaeological excavations in Assos were carried out at the end of the 19th century by American scientists. However, a systematic study of this settlement began in 1981. Since then, excavations have been carried out on the ancient necropolis, the temple of Athena, the amphitheater, agora and a number of other important sites.
Professor Nurettin Arslan from the University on March 18 in Canakkale presented the results of excavations of the ancient city of Assos, where Turkish scientists have been working for the past 40 years. The archaeologist noted that they are currently working on sites dating back to the Byzantine period. All finds are dated back to the 7th century AD.
Major excavations took place in the ruins of residential buildings, where fragments of pottery and tools were discovered, allowing to learn more about the daily life of that period. One of the finds never before encountered by archaeologists was a meat grill made of terracotta, a type of unglazed pottery.
Arslan said that the finds also include ceramic pots for cooking porridge, as well as storage vessels and dishes for serving food. In addition to utensils, archaeologists have discovered drilling and cutting tools used in the Byzantine period. During the excavation of the remains of the gymnasium, scientists found a large iron knife, similar to a machete. In addition, an iron ax was discovered that was used for woodworking.
