In an effort to restore damage and find out the correct name of the ancient city in Muğla province’s Ula district, cleaning work is underway, and surface research has begun, according to experts and scholars.
An ancient city found in the Ula district of Muğla province on the Aegean coast is now the center of a research project in a hope to find it’s correct name. The district was damaged by plundering treasure hunters in ancient times and efforts are underway to restore the site and promote tourism in the area.
“We could not find any tablet or scripture recording the name of the ancient city. That’s why we expect that the name of the city will be revealed in artifacts found during the surface research,” said Muğla University Archaeology Department assistant professor Abdülkadir Baran, speaking to the Anatolia news agency.
The southwest Anatolia ancient city is known to people as Okkataş, Baran said, adding that this name was thought to be Kyllandos or Thera in ancient times. Cleaning work started at the beginning of 2011 with the support of Muğla Museum, Muğla University and Ula Municipality, he said, adding that, as a result of this cleaning work, which cleared thick overgrowth on the site, the surface has been revealed. The surface research has also started and this will lead us to the traces of this ancient city, he said.
“We found remains from he fourth and fifth centuries B.C. and this tells us that this city is 2,500 years old,” said Baran, adding that the team estimated the district was the center of the Karya civilization. The city stayed between two large rocks and spread over a very large surface, he said, adding that until now it has not been subject to a detailed archaeological research.
The most damaged ancient city of Turkey
“The ancient city stayed as it was for a hundred years and people damaged the environment and surroundings of the city,” Baran said. After the cleaning works, a theater was revealed. However, due to illegal excavation work earlier, the theater was damaged.
The Muğla ancient city is the worst damaged ancient city in Turkey, Baran said. “When abandoned the ancient cities of Turkey are not cared for, people carry out illegal excavations on those sites and this is theft,” he added.
The people who are living in this area are well aware of the damage, he said. However, the authorities will try to put a stop to such damage as they work in the area, Baran said, adding that after the excavation starts in the city, the illegal excavations will stop.
They will give information to the locals about the site, Baran said. “This site will attract tourists to this city, but the most important thing is to stop illegal activities at the site.”
“We aim to make this city a tourist center in Turkey. We are currently working on a new project with the university,” said Ula Mayor Nadi Şenkal, speaking after Baran. The restoration and exhibition of the ancient city is not our only aim, we also aim to develop this region, he added.
“We await for the support of Tourism and Culture Ministry of Turkey. These works cannot be done only by the efforts of municipality,” he said.
The workers in the cleaning work are inmates of Ula prison, said Şenkal. “The inmates receive wages and also their social insurance. This is part of a new project that we have started with Ula Prison.”
Source: Hurriyet Daily News [October 23, 2011]
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| The new surface research in Ula district’s ancient city will reveal the information and details about the city. The ancient city is known to people as Okkataş [Credit: AA] |
“We could not find any tablet or scripture recording the name of the ancient city. That’s why we expect that the name of the city will be revealed in artifacts found during the surface research,” said Muğla University Archaeology Department assistant professor Abdülkadir Baran, speaking to the Anatolia news agency.
The southwest Anatolia ancient city is known to people as Okkataş, Baran said, adding that this name was thought to be Kyllandos or Thera in ancient times. Cleaning work started at the beginning of 2011 with the support of Muğla Museum, Muğla University and Ula Municipality, he said, adding that, as a result of this cleaning work, which cleared thick overgrowth on the site, the surface has been revealed. The surface research has also started and this will lead us to the traces of this ancient city, he said.
“We found remains from he fourth and fifth centuries B.C. and this tells us that this city is 2,500 years old,” said Baran, adding that the team estimated the district was the center of the Karya civilization. The city stayed between two large rocks and spread over a very large surface, he said, adding that until now it has not been subject to a detailed archaeological research.
The most damaged ancient city of Turkey
“The ancient city stayed as it was for a hundred years and people damaged the environment and surroundings of the city,” Baran said. After the cleaning works, a theater was revealed. However, due to illegal excavation work earlier, the theater was damaged.
The Muğla ancient city is the worst damaged ancient city in Turkey, Baran said. “When abandoned the ancient cities of Turkey are not cared for, people carry out illegal excavations on those sites and this is theft,” he added.
The people who are living in this area are well aware of the damage, he said. However, the authorities will try to put a stop to such damage as they work in the area, Baran said, adding that after the excavation starts in the city, the illegal excavations will stop.
They will give information to the locals about the site, Baran said. “This site will attract tourists to this city, but the most important thing is to stop illegal activities at the site.”
“We aim to make this city a tourist center in Turkey. We are currently working on a new project with the university,” said Ula Mayor Nadi Şenkal, speaking after Baran. The restoration and exhibition of the ancient city is not our only aim, we also aim to develop this region, he added.
“We await for the support of Tourism and Culture Ministry of Turkey. These works cannot be done only by the efforts of municipality,” he said.
The workers in the cleaning work are inmates of Ula prison, said Şenkal. “The inmates receive wages and also their social insurance. This is part of a new project that we have started with Ula Prison.”
Source: Hurriyet Daily News [October 23, 2011]