Introduction

1Phoenix/Phoinix (Φοῖνιξ) is an ancient Greek deme located near the modern village of Taşlıca, district of Marmaris. The settlement is located in the southwest part of the Bozburun Peninsula (SW Turkey) which is also known as the Carian Chersonese, a political sub-region of ancient Caria, or the Rhodian Peraia, especially in the Hellenistic period.

2Both the excavation and the survey provide new insights into this hitherto little-studied region. These include: economic insights into the organisation of ancient rural production; pinpointing the use of spolia within the building logic of a Late Antique/Early Byzantine temple conversion; new epigraphic evidence on the people who inhabited the area; and relating different phases and types of history, from an abandoned early modern Greek-speaking village to contemporary culinary traditions, to the ancient remains and natural landscape.

Excavations at the Temple-Church

7To this end, the excavation was carried out using the tried, tested, and widely accepted “locus-lot” recording method. This time-tested approach provided an invaluable framework for the systematic cataloguing and interpretation of the various layers of history hidden in the ground. By adhering to this methodological system, the excavation area was methodically divided into 15 distinct trenches or loci, each representing a unique stratigraphic context or depositional layer. This deliberate subdivision allowed the various temporal and functional aspects of the site to be precisely delineated, thus capturing the subtleties of past use and occupation (Fig. 2).

8Due to modern agricultural activities and damage, the temple church and its surroundings are covered with a dense layer of stone rubble. In order to understand the layout of the church, to enable the excavation work to proceed smoothly and to organise the individual architectural blocks in the surrounding area, initial cleaning and landscaping work was carried out. In this context, the vegetation and stone rubble on the site were first cleared, especially on the flat terrain in the northern part (Fig. 3).

9Subsequently, the architectural blocks that were not found in situ and that had been identified both before and during the excavation were moved to the flat northern area after their current condition had been documented. The relocation of the architectural blocks took into account their architectural features or their original position within the presumed sanctuary structure, such as blocks belonging to a Doric triglyph and a metope frieze as well as anta capitals, and categorised them in an orderly manner (Fig. 4).

10Once the vegetation clearing and debris filling had been completed, excavations were carried out outside the structure immediately in front of the north wall to delineate the northern boundary of the church, understand its layout and expose any associated spaces (Fig. 5). A significant portion of the north wall of the church was exposed during this excavation work. In the foundation and corpus of the north wall, a section covering the entire narthex and about a third of the north aisle was constructed of well-made and large rectangular blocks typical of a temple from the Hellenistic period. In this area, the foundation of the temple has most likely been preserved in situ. For the remaining two-thirds or so of the northern nave, although some well-crafted and large rectangular blocks were used at times, the stones used for the foundation and the body of the wall were generally of rough craftsmanship and were used as rubble masonry. This differentiation in blocks and construction technique is an important indication of the available blocks of the temple from the Hellenistic period.

11In the area where these block variations occur, the presence of two Doric order anta capitals in front of the northern section of the wall also proves to be an important indication. They indicate that the entrance to the temple, which must originally have been to the east, was flanked by antae. On the basis of these data, however, it is not possible to make a definitive judgement. The situation will become clearer through further excavations as the process inside the temple progresses.

12The excavations in front of the north wall of the church uncovered a complex of interconnected rooms consisting of four chambers. In this extension, arranged in the sequence of three adjacent rooms at the same depth, the central chamber was divided into two, resulting in this chamber being converted into two separate rooms. The rooms that make up the space were excavated from west to east and labelled accordingly. In this context, the westernmost room was designated as Room no. 1, the central rooms as Rooms no. 2a and no. 2b and the easternmost room as Room no. 3 (Fig. 6).

13The excavations revealed that the western wall of Room 1 (LOC.9) was preserved at the level of the foundation and the eastern wall was partially restored. It seems that this eastern wall was used as a common wall with the western wall of Rooms 2a (LOC.11) and 2b (LOC.15). In Room 1, there is an entrance in the south-east corner leading to Room 2b. The southern jamb of the entrance is formed by the northern wall of the church, while an orthostat block forms the northern jamb. The south wall of Room 1 is formed by the north wall of the church and is well preserved. Unfortunately, the northern wall of the room is not preserved or may never have existed if this room served as an outdoor porch for the entrance to the church. The side walls are made of roughly hewn blocks between which earthen mortar was used. The common wall with the church consists mainly of well-crafted large rectangular blocks typical of the Hellenistic temple. Only in the eastern corner of this wall were roughly crafted blocks with earthen mortar used. Within this southern wall is a 96 cm wide entrance that provides access to the church, in a position roughly coinciding with the centre of the room (Room 1). Excavations in this room revealed two layers, one homogeneous and the other non-sealed. In the upper layer I, a filling of roughly worked blocks measuring about 25 x 35 cm was found, probably representing collapsed walls of the room and the church. Doric frieze blocks (Fig. 4) and anta capitals (Fig. 7) belonging to the Hellenistic temple were discovered in this fill. A statue base with an inscription was also excavated (Fig. 8). The small finds and ceramics from Layer I are mixed and range from the early Hellenistic to the Ottoman period.The layer below is still under study.

14Room 2 consists of a single room divided into two by two large orthostat blocks forming an entrance. The excavations have shown that the entrance from Room 2a leads to Room 2b, which lies behind Room 2a. The enclosing walls of both rooms consist of roughly worked blocks with dimensions of 25 x 35 cm, between which earthen mortar was used as a binder.

15The western wall of the room is shared by Rooms 2a and 2b and is connected to another room, designated as Room 3. It can be assumed that there is an access to this room from Room 2a. Although the northern and eastern walls of Room 3 are badly damaged, their general outlines are still recognisable. The southern wall of the room is divided by the northern wall of the church. At the south-east corner are two orthostats in the church wall, and the space between them is filled with roughly worked blocks. It seems that this area was an entrance to the church, with the doorposts formed by the two orthostats, and it was closed at an unspecified time. The ceramics and small finds from this room, similar to the other rooms, are mixed and date from the Early Hellenistic to Early Byzantine periods.

16After the excavation of the side rooms, a noteworthy discovery came to light: the excavation of three different male adult graves located just outside the northern boundary of the church in Room 1. These graves were carefully arranged in an east-west direction and featured a remarkable architectural element: pitched roofs constructed with carefully arranged tiles. Of particular importance are the datable artefacts recovered from the tombs. They consist exclusively of bronze coins and a well-preserved censer from the 6^th and 7^th centuries CE. These remains serve as key chronological markers and contribute to our understanding of the temporal context in which these graves were buried (Fig. 9).

17The excavations carried out in and around the structure have yielded preliminary conclusions about the changes in the historical plan of the structure and its chronological phases.

19Another indication of the temple’s history is the ceramics found during the excavations. Although this pottery was not found in an undisturbed Hellenistic layer, it could still play a role in dating the temple. Ceramics such as Attic black-figure inner cups, cup-skyphoi, mushroom-shaped amphora rims and unguentaria bases suggest that the area was in use between the late 4^th century BCE and the late 2^nd century BCE. Consequently, based on the ceramic finds, it is plausible that the earliest phase of the temple could date from the late 4^th century BCE to the early 2^nd century BCE.

20Additional data on the history and construction of the temple can be gleaned from the architectural blocks that have been reused in the structure. Particularly important are the triglyph metope blocks, which are part of a Doric frieze, and the Doric anta capitals. The anta capitals help to clarify the architectural layout of the temple, although the absence of the lower parts and the lack of certain details prevent a precise dating. A comparable example found in the larger Carian region is the Doric frieze blocks of the gymnasium of Latmos Herakleia. While Peschlow-Bindokat dated this structure to the 2^nd century BCE, Gider-Büyüközer dated it to the early 1^st century BCE (Peschlow-Bindokat, 1996, p. 37; Peschlow-Bindokat, 2005, p. 121; Gider-Büyüközer, 2013, pp. 227, 698-699, 454, Table 55). However, considering that the simplified triglyphs in this example date to at least the 2^nd century BCE, and taking into account the inscriptions and ceramics found on the surface and in excavations, it can be suggested that the Phoenix examples date to no later than the 2^nd century BCE.

21In any case, the structure was clearly Doric. If we assume that the parts of the church built of large ashlars also reuse the temple foundation, we can calculate the approximate original size of the temple when our excavations are completed. Two further important observations can be made: first, the entrance of the temple was probably on the east side, in contrast to the entrance of the church. Secondly, the absence of a crepidoma and the presence of only two anta capitals in the west and north walls preserved in situ indicate that the temple had a unperipteral plan. On the basis of the available data, however, it is not possible to decide definitively whether the temple had an in antis or prostylos ground plan.

23Although the ground plan of the church is too general to give a direct indication of the dating of the present structure, the tombs (representing a terminus ante quem) and the ceramic finds suggest that the temple of Apollo was converted into a basilica church in the early Byzantine period, probably in the first half of the 5^th century CE during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II (r. 401-450). In particular, the presence and density of some red slipped wares such as Late Roman C-ware Form 3 and Late Roman D-ware Form 9 support the hypothesis that the temple was converted into a church around the second quarter of the 5^th century CE (for similar examples see Hayes, 1972; Hayes, 2008). Further evidence of early Byzantine activity in the building is a cross graffito carefully carved into the northern vertical jamb of the main entrance of the narthex, and another on the underside of the lintel of the same door. The presence of graffiti at the entrance of a church is also known from other sites, such as the temple church of Aphrodisias (I.Aphrodisias2007, 1.21, 1.22; see also Sitz, 2019). The glazed ceramics and coins found in the area also suggest that the church could have been used until the 11^th century CE.

Field Survey: Exploring the Southern Chora of Phoenix

24In parallel with the excavations, an additional team under the Phoenix Archaeological Project (PAP) diligently conducted a pedestrian field survey in the southern Phoenix hinterland throughout September, in accordance with the planned 2022 fieldwork schedule at the Phoenix archaeological site. This was an extensive survey covering a total area of 450 hectares (Fig. 1). The main focus was on the identification and mapping of various archaeological features, particularly agricultural workshops and farmsteads and their associated spaces. The result of these efforts provided valuable insights into the spatial distribution of these features in the Phoenix region, as we will discuss in more detail below after discussing our other finds.

Phoinikoudi (Fenaket)

25One of the focal points of our investigations in 2022 was the exploration of Phoinikoudi, now called Fenaket, an abandoned Greek village located in two distinct quarters in the southeast and southwest of the Sindili plain near the acropolis of Phoenix Hisartepe. The lower quarter of Phoinikoudi, which lies in close proximity to the southern base of the Acropolis, is called “Lower Phoinikoudi”. A dried-up watercourse known as “Büğüş” divides this settlement into two segments.

26Within the boundaries of Lower Phoinikoudi, 44 houses, an olive oil workshop, a chapel, rock-cut cisterns and at least three different architectural typologies were discovered (Fig. 13 and 15). The archaeological finds indicate that Phoinikoudi was inhabited until the late phase of the Ottoman period. However, it is worth noting that the presence of terraces, tombs with stepped bases, Rhodian-style funerary altars and funerary stelae suggests that this area may have formed part of the southern necropolis of the site of Phoenix. It is believed that this zone was converted into a residential site during the Middle Ages, using building materials for wall construction. The remains of a barely preserved apse indicate the possible presence of a small chapel at this site.

27Our research resulted in the recording and identification of datable ceramics, confirming that the earliest human activity in the area dates back to around the 4^th century BCE and continued uninterrupted into the later stages of the Ottoman era at Phoinikoudi. After the completion of the fieldwork in Lower Phoinikoudi (Fig. 13), our exploration efforts were extended to Upper Phoinikoudi, which lies to the west of the Sindili plain (Fig. 14). In this sector of Phoinikoudi, we carefully documented 38 traditional dwellings that show architectural similarities to the examples observed in Lower Phoinikoudi. In addition to the archaeological evidence, the oral interviews we conducted with the inhabitants of Taşlıca indicated that the inhabitants of Phoinikoudi left the settlement due to the obligatory Turkish-Greek population exchange in 1923. We found an unused rifle cartridge stamped on its back with the date 1886 and the Greek letters E – Σ (for Ελληνικός Στρατός), together with the monogram GR which stands for Georg Roth, an Austro-Hungarian ammunition manufacturer. These cartridges, commissioned by the Greek army, were made for French Gras assault rifles, a weapon of choice of Greek guerillas fighting the Ottomans. As a result of our investigation, we were able to identify the multi-layered character of Upper Phoinikoudi, as evidenced by a Chamasorionic-type tomb, a workshop with a press, six cisterns carved into the rock and a single vaulted cistern, as well as a considerable accumulation of Hellenistic ceramic fragments within the mediaeval settlement remains.

Documentation of the Rural Architecture of the Ottoman Period

28Architectural documentation in the settlements of Lower Phoinikoudi (Fenaket) and Upper Phoinikoudi was carried out using a combination of traditional and modern techniques. First, the houses were numbered with location codes according to the numerical system. Sketches with simple measurements were made of all structures identified in the field. The drawings were placed at the boundaries on the baseline at a scale of 1/10000. The field coordinates of the destroyed buildings that were not visible on the map were taken and recorded. The buildings best preserved in terms of condition were selected and digitised by drone photography. Five residential buildings with different ground plan features, largely preserved walls and legible architectural elements were documented in detail as part of this study.

29Lower Phoinikoudi was built in the valley on the southern slope of the Phoenix acropolis and is now an abandoned settlement. There is a stream bed in the valley whose waters no longer flow. There are residential buildings on the terraces installed on the slopes of the hills and in the plain between two opposite hills. It was also noted that there are units such as cisterns and workshops, which are believed to have been shared to meet housing needs. A total of forty-four residential buildings and two cisterns were identified here.

30Upper Phoinikoudi is a settlement on the southern slope of the hill in the north of the Sindili plain. It is abandoned today. North of the acropolis, on the hill that juts into the plain, there are residential buildings facing south. There are cisterns and workshops in the settlement where street and garden boundaries are visible. A total of thirty-eight dwellings, seven cisterns and one workshop were identified here.

31As a result of the surveys and measurements conducted in Lower and Upper Phoinikoudi settlements, it was found that there are similarities and differences between the structures. We noted that in the buildings constructed with masonry techniques, stone and brick were masoned with red earth mortar and core blocks were used for the walls. The buildings are largely similar in plan. The number of rooms in the single-storey houses with a front porch varies from one to three (Fig. 15). The front porch, from which the rooms open, is a semi-open space surrounded by walls on three sides. This space is raised by steps and has the same floor level as the rooms.

32It is thought that the wooden material of the beam nests was used as a support material in the upper cover and covered with earthen drips in some examples that have survived to the present day with intact walls. The houses have simple stone fireplaces and small wall niches. Material remains and oral interviews provide clues to the spatial correspondences of daily life in the settlements.

The Public Space (Agora?) at Kırkmermerler

34Our investigation revealed that the southern section of the eastern terrace wall has a construction method with bossage walls built of quadrangle blocks in an isodomic masonry arrangement. The northern section of the eastern terrace wall, on the other hand, clearly deviated from this construction method and had a polygonal masonry. The complex itself contained various remains possibly from different periods, including remains of olive oil workshops, niches carved into the rock and reliefs with lion heads found on these terrace levels (Fig. 17-18). The collection of numerous roof tiles, especially from the southern terrace, complemented the ceramic collection and suggests that at least part of the complex was roofed at some point.

35Given the complexity of the finds, the building presents an intriguing puzzle that we would like to decipher. Several hypotheses are proposed: the terraced structure may have served as an open-air sacred precinct in its early stages. The presence of niches carved into the rock at the back of the complex and the polygonal masonry speak in favour of this interpretation. It appears that the terraced structure was expanded during the early Hellenistic period. The integration of lion’s head reliefs into the bossage terrace walls, especially on the southern terrace, suggests the possibility of a roofed stoa. These developments indicate a shift in the purpose of the terraces, possibly coinciding with the prosperity of the site during its Hellenistic heyday. The presence of abundant Hellenistic pottery and the collection of roof tiles further support this assumption.

36Based on the assemblage, it is conceivable that the building functioned as a public space similar to an agora in the Hellenistic era. Furthermore, the presence of African Red Slipped ware such as Hayes Form 67 and Late Roman C ware Hayes Form 3 indicates a later reoccupation of the terraced enclosure in Late Antiquity, which points to a continuous use beyond the Hellenistic phase.

Gedik / Gelos

37In the course of our extensive fieldwork in 2022, a remarkable archaeological find came to light: a complex and isolated architectural structure in the Gedik valley, embedded in the southern extension of the settlement, more precisely, at the southern foot of Akgeri hill. This building complex, distinguished by its dimensions of 41 metres long and 20 metres wide, is an important addition to the archaeological landscape of the region (Fig. 19).

38Our comprehensive analysis of the excavation site revealed its intricate architectural features. The complex consists of two distinct structures: a U-shaped building facing north and an adjacent rectangular structure. The strategic positioning of these structures on a terrace, reinforced by a terrace wall, is a remarkable feature. The construction of the terrace wall is particularly interesting, demonstrating the isodomic technique, with a pronounced use of bossed masonry, which is clearly visible along the southern façade of the complex.

39The prevailing scholarly discourse, influenced by earlier studies, has predominantly assigned the function of a farmstead to the building complex under investigation (Demirciler, 2014, F.16, p. 75, pl. 59). However, our careful study and subsequent interpretations call into question the viability of this conventional view. The lack of convincing evidence for this farmstead hypothesis has led to a fundamental reassessment of the purpose of the complex. Several important factors underpin this reassessment, such as the fact that the superior craftsmanship and architectural sophistication seen in the complex depart from the utilitarian attributes typically associated with a farmstead, the strategic proximity of the complex to the port of Gedik, possibly associated with the as yet unidentified Portus Gelos, and its proximity to the port of Rhodes Mandraki across the sea, suggesting a more versatile role than that of a simple homestead. Its location on an ancient road leading from the south to the north suggests a larger functional area, which does not correspond to the localised function of a farmstead.

40In view of these considerations, an alternative hypothesis emerges: the building complex could have fulfilled a public or sacred function. This new perspective, based on the cumulative archaeological evidence, envisages a function beyond that of a traditional farm. While further research is essential to definitively clarify the purpose of the complex, the findings from our investigations lead to a nuanced reinterpretation of its historical significance in the Gedik Valley and in the broader context of Phoenix’s southern hinterland.

Decentralised Agricultural Organisation of the Southern Chora

41The second part of the field survey was conducted in Çakallık hill, Badrik, Namlıalan and Pırnal, which connect the Serçe Liman (Portus Cressa) with the centre of the Phoenix deme. In this part of the field studies, we were able to uncover elements of the agricultural organisation of the region such as pressing workshops, wineries, farmsteads, agricultural terraces and related spaces. In this area mentioned above, we recorded 17 different workshops in situ (Fig. 20). While the density of workshops in this area is striking, the relatively small number of identified farmsteads contrasts. The identification of farmsteads was significantly influenced by the presence of press stones, press beds and the proximity of cisterns or water sources, which were often adjacent to agricultural terraces or plains. These components played a crucial role in delineating agricultural production zones. The dense ceramic sherds we have collected from these units, such as mushroom amphorae, Rhodian canonical and Cnidian amphorae, indicate that production activities began as early as the 4^th century BCE and continued during the Hellenistic period. The absence of pottery from the Roman Imperial period supports earlier assessments of socio-economic deactivation in the Carian Chersonese during this period. But it is clear that the farmsteads and workshops could be reactivated by the beginning of the 5^th century CE. The strong presence of sherds of LRC Hayes Form 3, LRD Hayes Form 9 and from the workshops supports our hypothesis.

42Our investigation has revealed a clear pattern in the distribution of workshops and related units. Predominantly, these units were concentrated near the fertile Sindili plain and the adjacent valleys, which are characterised by agricultural terraces with terra-rosa soils. This spatial arrangement was enclosed within a radius of about one mile from the centre of the deme. The 2022 fieldwork suggests that these units were closely connected and decentralised in Hellenistic period, with their location suggesting a regional network. Nevertheless, determining the permanence or seasonal occupation of rural farmsteads remains a challenge that warrants further investigation.

Contextualising the Data: Network Analysis for the Location of the Chora in Relation to Serçe Liman

43The field data collected in the Phoenix and Casara regions were subjected to network analysis. The process involved the identification of connection points, common elements and clustering tendencies within the archaeological landscape.

44The analysis of the record underlines a consistent association between workshop spaces and water sources, especially riverbanks and cisterns carved into rocks. This finding points to a deliberate selection of sites, suggesting a dependence on the accessibility of water for craft activities and daily operations.

45The spatial distribution of agricultural units in the region shows a clear correlation with ancient routes leading to important ports, including the bays of Saranda and Serçe. This geographical correlation indicates a systematic effort to optimise transport, possibly reflecting a decentralised system for the direct delivery of goods from producers to consumers. The absence of major storage facilities in the ports of Saranda and Serçe is indicative of a decentralised organisation of transport. This arrangement probably facilitated the direct transport of goods from the production sites to the consumer and streamlined the distribution process.

46The presence of isolated chamber tombs and tombs with stepped bases near workshops and farmsteads offers intriguing possibilities. These burial structures may indicate the burial preferences of landowners who wished to be buried on their own plots, suggesting the cultural and social importance of these sites (Fig. 21).

Water Management in the Chora

47During our fieldwork in 2022, we also looked at the hydrological dynamics of Phoenix and Casara, highlighting the important role of water sources and cisterns in historic agricultural landscapes. Three dried—up streambeds - Kızlan in Gökseriç, Karabüğüş in Lower Phoinikoudi and Karahorata in Gedik —are believed to have played a crucial role in agricultural productivity in Phoenix. Despite their condition today, they were once indispensable resources for farming and daily consumption. During our fieldwork, we discovered 29 cisterns in the archaeological landscape, some of which are still in use today. Only three are vaulted, while most, twenty-three, are carved into the bedrock and located near agricultural and artisanal areas. These cisterns, up to 10-12 metres deep, conserved the water resources needed for irrigation and daily activities in the Sindili plain (Fig. 22).

Epigraphy Studies: Peopling Ancient Phoenix

48The 2022 season brought to light ten newly discovered inscriptions (plus two small fragments), most of them from the excavation of the temple-church at Kızlan Deresi. As described above, the church was built from reused stones from a sanctuary and elsewhere. The excavations revealed new gravestones that were integrated into this church, a statue base with a long text and other inscriptions that have yet to be deciphered. All of them probably date from the Hellenistic period. One particularly well-preserved base with a circular cutting on the top bears the inscription “Damosthenes, son of Simylinos” (Δαμοσθένης Σιμυλίνου); it was uncovered near the apse of the church (see above, “Excavations at the Temple-Church”). In addition, a pillar with graffitied fragments of Christian prayers (PHX.22.249) was found in the nave of the church.

49In the abandoned village of Aşağı Fenaket, the survey team documented a house already known from previous publications to contain five ancient inscriptions as spolia: the “Yazıtlı Ev” (Inscription House). We were able to make squeezes, photographs, and measurements of these previously published texts. Two additional new inscriptions were discovered nearby.

50A final epigraphic find of note is a well-preserved text that reads “Chryso for his father Pythippos” (Χρυσὼ ὑπὲρ Πυθίππου τοῦ πατρός; PHX.22.370). This Hellenistic inscription is carved on a rectangular block and was reused on its side in a complex at Çakallık Tepesi. The formula is similar to examples from Rhodes. The Phoenix Epigraphy Project therefore continues to shed light on the individuals who lived in the area of Phoenix, as well as on how subsequent individuals, up to the present day, interact with and reuse these written remains of the past.

Mapping and Documentation

51As part of the Phoenix Archaeological Project, 350 hectares of the site were documented through mapping, creation of point clouds and 3D modelling (Fig. 23). UAV photogrammetry was supported by terrestrial techniques to best describe the topography. Three drones (DJI Phantom 4 RTK, Mavic Air 2s, Phantom 4 Pro), one total station (Spectra Focus 6 2 sec.), two dual band GNSS receivers (Spectra SP60-SP80), one level (Leica NA720) were used in the execution of these studies. For mapping, we preferred the RTK drone. RTK drones offer higher accuracy and precision in mapping. This way we can survey larger areas in a shorter time. Six flights were carried out for the documentation.

52Numerous ground control points (GCPs) were installed in the documentation area. These GCPs are used for georeferencing aerial photographs and are temporary tarpaulins that do not damage the terrain. The GCPs were measured with Spectra SP60-SP80 model GNSS receivers, 15 epochs, 2 times, 1 hour apart, using Real Time Kinematics (RTK) technique with sub-cm sensitivity. The RTK technique works with at least two receivers. If you use one as a base station and the other as a rover, it provides sub-millimetre accuracy with instant corrections from the base station. The flight over a large area was carried out with a resolution of 3.98 px/cm GSD (Ground Sampling Distance). The Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) is the distance between two consecutive pixel centres measured on the ground. The high-resolution flight flies closer and has a resolution of 1 cm/px. Data such as orthophoto, 3D model, DEM and Dense Point Cloud were created from the flights. The aerial photos were proportionally overlaid and a stereo model was created. The precision method was used to create 1/1000 scale topographic maps from the stereo models using 3D glasses. Coordinated data from all disciplines (geophysics, architecture, etc.) can be processed on the topographic map created.

53However, since we have extensive data from different disciplines and data input will be regular every year, the data must be collected and stored in a certain systematic way. To ensure this systematic way, we have created the GRID system and added this system to the GIS database. This GRID system covers the entire documentation area at 25 x 25 m intervals. Each cell is uniquely named in a specific order. The created GRID system can be used with GNNS receivers as a base map. This way we can immediately know which cell we are in and store the data with the coordinates and the original name. This GRID system will offer us great convenience in archiving layered data in the years to come.

Gastronomy Workshops

54In conjunction with our archaeological research efforts, we are meticulously documenting the intricate fabric of traditional culinary culture interwoven throughout the geographical expanse. This joint initiative is made possible through a strategic alliance with the esteemed Mide Lobisi Association. The preservation of gastronomic heritage, recognised for its inherent value, is a primary driver for our engagement in this culinary exploration — an endeavour that bridges temporal boundaries and forges a deep connection with the historical continuum of the landscape.

55In line with this objective, a series of two immersive gastronomy workshops were staged last year. These workshops served as participatory platforms and allowed for active engagement with local community members, giving us privileged access to first-hand insights and intensive training in culinary traditions (Fig. 24). Beyond the acquisition of empirical data, these workshops were crucial in developing a nuanced understanding of the cultural resonance embedded in regional ingredients, culinary techniques and recipes.

56Strengthened by the success of the previous workshops, we are pleased to present our ambitious concept for the current year — a culinary festival of overwhelming proportions. This upcoming gastro-festival, which will take place in the centre of Taşlıca, aims to foster convergence not only between the city’s residents, but also between the enthusiastic participants, who will think far outside the box. A shared appreciation for the unifying culinary heritage forms the basis of this event and promises a vivid panorama of taste experiences, olfactory sensations and narratives. This gathering of generations will honour and showcase the complex mosaic of flavours that have indelibly shaped the region’s gastronomic ethos. Even though our culinary voyage of discovery is far from over, our commitment remains unwavering. It involves not only the methodical documentation of culinary recipes, but also a deep dive into the multi-layered narratives that underlie them. Each culinary creation embodies a distinctive cultural essence and tells of tradition, resilience and evolution. Our collaboration with the Mide Lobisi Association aims to curate experiences that transcend historical chronicles and promote the persistence of these culinary treasures beyond the periphery of history — ensuring their vitality in the kitchens and hearts of posterity.

57This merging of eras brings the past and the present closer together. This endeavour not only excavates archaeological remains, but also tastes the intangible heritage that has been passed down through generations — one delicious morsel at a time. Together we celebrate the flavours that connect us to the heritage of our ancestors, creating a bond that transcends the boundaries of time.