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HIERAPOLIS 2010

Report on the excavations by the

Institute of archaeology, conservation, and history, University of Oslo

(Aug. 17 – Sept. 10), by Sven Ahrens

Team

AHRENS, SVEN, DR. PHIL. – ARCHAEOLOGIST, FIELD DIRECTOR

BORTHEIM, KJETIL, BA –STUDENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY (M)

HILL, DAVID, MA – ARCHAEOLOGIST AND GIS SURVEYOR (M)

HÅBU, ANNE, BA – RESTAURER (F)

KASPERSEN, VIDAR, MA –DNA BIOLOGIST (M)

LIENG, LINN TRUDE, BA – STUDENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY (F)

RUSS, HELENE, MA – ANTHROPOLOGIST (F)

RYGH, BJØRN HÅKON EKETUFT, MA – ARCHAEOLOGIST AND DRAUGHTSMAN (M)

SUND, EVA MARIE, MA – ARCHAEOLOGIST (F)

WENN, CAMILLA CECILIE, MA – ARCHAEOLOGIST, ASSISTANT FIELD DIRECTOR (F)

Results of the excavations

The excavations of the University of Oslo in the East necropolis were concentrated on 5 areas

in and around the tombs C84, C91, C92, C92a (fig. 1) and a trial trench east of C103:

1. Inside tomb C92 (42), between the benches

2. In and around tomb C91 (51)

3. Sarcophagus in front of the tombs C92 (42) and C92a (65)

4. Sarcophagus to the East of C92 (42)

5. Extension of the trial trench 5 between tombs C92a (65) and C84 (187) (Trench 6, 7, 9

and 10)

6. Trial trench east of C103 (100).

1. Inside tomb C92 (42), between the benches

The tomb was opened in 2008 and excavation continued in 2009 and 2010. The area of

excavation was this year concentrated on the center between the three lower benches in the

tomb. All masses were excavated down to the well-defined Roman floor (fig. 1-2). The floor

was composed of thin compact earth partially including the surface of the roughly dressed

bedrock. In the center of the aisle is a pit covered with a stone slab (fig. 2). The pit was not

excavated. The masses of the earth floor are free of finds. A layer on top of the floor was

heaped up to the height of up to 20 cms in front of the rear bench. It contained large amounts

of very fragmented bones. Possibly this layer represents bones fallen or removed from the

benches and later stepped upon, destroyed and mixed with deposited materials. The layers up

to the height of 40 cms over the Roman floor contained bone material and large amounts of

finds, particularly near the entrance. The finds are both from the Roman and Middle

Byzantine periods. Consequently these layers must belong to the interventions of the Middle

Byzantine period from the very beginning of the reuse of the tomb as a charnel house. The

layers up to the height of the benches also contained Roman material but much more

fragmented and isolated. Interestingly there is Roman building material, like tesserae, mortar

and tile fragments to be found throughout all layers except in the Roman floor layer. Clearly a

large part of the material has been deposited inside the tomb in the phase of the secondary

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use. Some of the Roman grave goods may also have come into the tomb together with the

skeletal remains transferred from a cemetery nearby. Consequently none of the finds can with

certainty be ascribed to the original Roman phase of use. A Cross pendant dated to the 10th

-

12th

century(fig. 3)1 was found in one of the lowest layers under many of the Roman finds. It

illustrates the disturbances of the lower layers in the Mid-Byzantine period. Among the

Roman finds were pottery fragments, fragmented glass unguentaria, nails, fragments of

jewellery in glass, iron and ivory and a complete lamp (Loeschke type VIII, 2. century AD)

(fig. 4), a grotesque terracotta head (fig. 5),2 and a terracotta cock or dove.

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Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5

1 G. R. Davidson, Corinth XII. The Minor Objects, Princeton (NJ) 1952, 258-59 nos. 2075-79 pl. 110.

2 Very frequent in Western Asia Minor: S. Besques, Catalogue raisonné des figurines et reliefs en terre-cuite

grecs, étrusques et romains III. Époque hellénistique et romaine. Grèce et Asie Mineure, Paris 1972, pl. 154.

310-17. pl. 482-83. 3 Compare: E. Dusenbery, Samothrace 2. The Nekropoleis, Princeton N. J. 1998, 934-936; C. Grandjouan, The

Athenian Agora VI. Terracottas and Plastic Lamps of the Roman Period, Princeton N. J. 1961, 68-69 pls. 20-21.

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2. Around C91 (51)

The roof slabs and the two front sima of tomb C91 were removed for future restoration. The

facade was almost completely excavated (fig. 6). Thereby the door was found in situ. The

door was damaged and mended in the upper left corner in antiquity. Traces of mortar around

the door show that it has also been sealed for a period of time. On the right side of the door an

inscription was found (fig. 7). It completes the inscription found in 2009 on the left side of the

door. The entire inscription now reads

Fig. 6

Fig. 7 Fig. 8

The inside was excavated to the height of the upper bench at the rear wall (fig. 8). The

upper bench is broken in the middle. Three large dressed but broken stone slabs were

discovered at the same height as the upper bench. During the cleaning of the askew central

slab, bone fragments were found in the gap to the West. The slabs cover probably a tomb

(tomb 522). The inside of C91 was not further excavated. After excavation the inside of the

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tomb was filled with about 20cms of earth. The trench along the East side of the tomb façade

and the door was filled with stones and earth.

The surroundings of the tomb were excavated to a depth of up to 50 cms to allow for

future reconstruction. Thereby 4 tile tombs were discovered: Tomb 481, 512, 521 and 550

(fig. 9). Tomb 481 was situated directly above the East wall and roof of tomb C91. 512 and

521 are located in front of tomb C91 and 550 between tomb C91 and C92. Tombs 481, 512

and 521 were excavated.

Fig. 9

Tomb 481: The tomb was oriented roughly S-N. It consisted of two layers of tiles but

was partially destroyed. The tiles were roofing tiles with a width of 49-50 cm. The profile

along the upper and lateral frame is characteristic for tiles of the 5th

to 7th

century, the width

however dates the tiles rather early in that period4. Fragments of unprofiled tiles or bricks

were also found. The tomb contained bone fragments. However no articulated skeleton parts

could be recorded because of the collapse and partial destruction of the tomb construction.

Iron nails were found in both ends of the tomb.

Tomb 512: The tomb was oriented S-N. It consisted of two layers of tiles and was

undesturbed. The tiles had the size 37cm x 37cm (Th: 3,8-4,2cm) or 37cm x 18,5cm (Th: 3,8-

4,6cm). The skeleton was placed on the second tile layer. It was oriented with the head to the

south and in dorsal position (fig. 10). The right part of the pelvic girdle and parts of the two

upper femura were preserved (fig. 11). Two metal, one in broze, the other in iron,buckles

were found apparently in situ on the left abdomen. The bronze buckle consists of a ring with a

narrower portion where the tongue is fastened. It can be dated to the Early Byzantine period5.

4 Ö. Özyiğit, Alaturka kiremidin oluşumu, Arkeoloji ve Sanat Dergisi 5, 1990, 160-62 fig. 6, 177 pl. 1.

5 Compare: G. R. Davidson, Corinth XII. The Minor Objects, Princeton (NJ) 1952, 270 nos. 2175-77, pl. 113;J.

Russel, Byzantine Instrumenta Domestica from Anemurium, in: R. L. Hohlfelder, City, Town and Countryside

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The iron buckle is very much corroded but it seems to have had oval shape. It shows traces of

gilt and was corrugated on the outside of the ring. Iron nails were found in the NE and the SW

corner of the tomb.

Tomb 521: The tomb was covered by three layers of tiles (fig. 13). The tiles were

broken and the cover had collapsed. The tiles had the dimensions 45cm x 45cm (Th: 4-4,5cm)

and 65-66cm x 65-66cm (Th: 4,2-5,2cm). The first layer of the cover consisted of two tiles of

the smaller type at the west end of the tomb. The two next layers were each composed of three

tiles of the larger type. A compact stone setting held the third cover layer in place. It was

particularly elaborate at the west end of the tomb. The bottom of the tomb consisted of four

tiles of the smaller type (fig. 12). The sides of the grave were walled up with alterning courses

of brick fragments and stones. The tomb contained only few bone fragments and the

orientation of the body can not be reconstructed. However the particular accentuation of the

west side of the tomb by an extra tile cover and the neat stone setting may indicate that that

was the more important end of the tomb. Iron nails were found in all four corners and at two

places west of the middle axis of the grave. In the stone setting around the third tile layer two

Gloria Exercitus coins were found, dating to the period AD 330-340 (fig. 14).

The iron nails indicate that all three tombs contained a wooden construction around

the body, possibly a frame or coffin. The chronology of the three tombs is not earlier than the

4th

century and not later than the 8th

century AD whereas some of the finds make an early

date in that period most probable. According to the geologist Stefano Marabini the terrace on

which the graves are situated is man-made. It was constructed by filling masses in and around

tomb C91/51 and it ends at the back and East walls of tomb C92/42. The terrace covers

probably the area between the two house tombs and the West side of the martyrium. The

terrace was probably constructed contemporaneously to the terracing works for the martyrium

church.

Fig. 10

in the Early Byzantine Era, New York 1982, 138 fig. 6, 4-5; J. C. Waldbaum, Metalwork from Sardis: The Finds

through 1974, London 1983, 121, no. 710, pl. 44.

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Fig. 11 Fig. 12

Fig 13

Fig. 14

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3. Sarcophagus 63 in front of the tombs C92 (42) and C92a (65)

Started in 2009 the sarcophagus 63 in front of C92, west of the entrance was further excavated

in artificial layers. The lowest 10 cms of the sarcophagus fill were more compact and harder

than the upper masses. This is an observation that has also been made on the side benches in

tomb C92/42 but it can not be interpreted as adipocire. The phenomenon is most likely linked

to the natural sedimentation of soil above a solid non-absorbent stone bedding.

At least five individuals including one child could be identified. None of the skeletons

was articulated (fig. 15). The sarcophagus contained fragments of glass and ceramic vessels

including 12 fragments of oil lamps. Two of these fragments can be dated to the 5th

century

AD.6 Among the finds was also a coin from the reign of Justinus II (565-578 AD) (fig. 16)

indicating human activity in the 6th

century or later. It is unclear if all or some of the material

belong to primary burials in the sarcophagus or if the objects and bones are later deposits.

Fig. 15 Fig. 16

4. Sarcophagus 62 to the East of C92 (42)

Sarcophagus 62 to the East of C92 was opened (fig. 17). One corner of the sarcophagus lid

had been smashed in and the sarcophagus had been robbed. The masses inside the

sarcophagus were heaped up at the Southern side wall. On top of the masses the south-eastern

acroterion of the lid was found. The bone material inside the sarcophagus was very

fragmented. The sarcophagus also contained some pottery fragments and several iron nails.

The almost complete looting of the sarcophagus has destroyed all valuable information and

does not allow for further conclusions.

6 Compare: L. Kahil, La céramique et les lampes, in: J. des Gagniers e.a., Laodicée du Lycos. Le Nymphée,

Québec 1969, 239. 241 cat. Nos. 7. 14-15.

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Fig. 17

5. Extension of the trial trench 5 between tombs C92a (65) and C84 (187) (Trench 6, 7, 9

and 10)

The trial trench 5 opened in 2009 between tombs C92a and C84 was extended by further

trenches 6, 7, 9 and 10 (fig. 18). The extension trench 6 at the East had the aim end to further

examine the possible burial inside a sarcophagus lid found in 2009. Two further fragments of

that lid were excavated and the finds included fragments of bones and unguentaria. But the

finds were out of context and it seems that they might be left overs from tomb looting. The

ceramic unguentarium found in 2009 at that spot is clearly datable to the the period 50 BC-50

AD and may indicate earlier burials than the house tombs and sarcophagi of the upper part of

the necropolis.

In trench 5 and 9 a thick and homogeneous layer of gravel composed of fist size stones

was examined. There was no soil between the stones and many finds of Roman Imperial

pottery and tesserae further indicate that the gravel was man made. It’s probably part of the

tomb building works in the area and may have served to fill depressions in the terrain.

Large parts of a mortar rampart found in 2009 were further excavated in trench 7 and

10 (fig. 19). The construction is an irregular heap of rocks and soft mortar, forming a sloping

rampart between two terraces. On the lower edge the rampart is formed as a wall which also

supports the backwall of tomb C84 (187). Below the lower wall of the rampart the bedrock is

cut horizontally forming a terrace on the same axis as the foundations and the backwall of

tomb C84 (187). Obviously the rampart represents the preparation of the terrain for the

building of the housetombs. There were probably more tombs planned in the row of tombs

C84 (187) and 188 but the project was never accomplished. The upper terrace above the

rampart consists of horizontally cut bedrock and earth filling in between. There is no mortar

used on the upper terrace. On the upper terrace a pipe was found that led water from the upper

hill to the mortar construction or beyond. The pipe is not preserved below the upper terrace

but a gutter or trench in the mortar shows that it led over the rampart. Under the gutter and

under the lower rampart wall there is a crude construction of rough stones and mortar forming

a simple basin that possibly has been part of that pipe construction.

While there was very little pottery found in the topsoil over the rampart in trench 7,

large amounts of pottery were found on the upper terrace. The pottery dates at least from the

early Imperial period until the early Byzantine period. It seems that there was a dumping

place for pottery disposal.

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Fig. 18

Fig. 19

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6. Trial trench east of C103.

Between tomb C103 (100) and the neighbouring tomb 99 to the East, a trial trench was

excavated with the intention to find possible stairs between the house tombs (fig. 20). The

trench was excavated down to the virgin soil without any results. Obviously there were

neither stairs nor an elaborated pedestrian communication system in the necropolis.

Fig. 20

GIS survey of East necropolis

In addition to the excavation the GIS survey was followed up this year, covering the area from

the martyrium church to the Hellenistic theatre (fig. 21). In 2010 116 more tombs have been

recorded. Status as of 2010 is 572 registered house tombs, bomoi, barrel-vaulted tombs,

sarcophagi, cist and tile graves. Each registered tomb number is entered in the database

together with an outline drawing of the tomb, a description, and a photograph. Furthermore

traces from travertine quarrying and the later Ottoman dwellings, road, irrigation system and

fences were surveyed. All in all 22 later dwellings and houses were registered in the area of

the East necropolis.

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Fig. 21

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Osteo-archaeological analysis

The analysis continued completing the work of 2009. Ca. 80% of the 2009 bone material were

registered and analysed. Additionally some of the 2010 crania from sarcophagus 63 have been

excavated in the laboratory and analysed. The anthropologist also assisted with the time

consuming work of selection, registering and taking of DNA samples.

The registered bones were added to the osteological database. Most of the bones seem

to derive from individuals already partially registered in 2009. The minimum number of

human individuals until now registered is 27. The amount of individuals and the species found

in the 2009 and 2010 analysis is summarized in the list below:

species (lat) Nisp MNI weight (g)

Aves sp 7 1 2,0

Bos taurus 6 0 58,0

Homo sapiens 22789 27 68 099,8

Mamalia sp 21 1 54,0

Murridae sp. 2 0 0,0

Ovis/Capra 1 0 9,0

Piskes sp 2 0 0,0

Rattus sp 1 1 0,0

Sus scrofa dom. 1 0 1,0

Bone samples

The biologist collected bone samples under sterile conditions for DNA analysis and C14

dating. 22 DNA samples were taken from femurs (11 samples) and teeth (11 samples) from

skeletons in tomb C92 (42). 15 C14 samples were taken from individual graves on the

cemetery below the martyrium (Area A), tomb 481, 512 and 521.

Restoration

The restorer cleaned 14 coins and 13 other finds including an ivory acus, an iron buckle, a

bronze cross, a bronze buckle and ceramics. The material came from both Norwegian and

Italian projects.

Drawing

The draughtsman has drawn diagnostic pottery found in 2009 and 2010. He has also drawn

three pilgrim badges found inside C92 (42) in 2008.