The Bronze Age harbour settlement on the island Tavsan Adasi and the later occupation until Byzantine Times. Archaeological investigations north of the ancient harbour of Didyma, West Turkey

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Francois Bertemes
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: from 2015 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270665320

The small island Tavşan Adası, which translatested means “rabbit island” in Turkish, is located north of the ancient port of Didyma on the west coast of Asia Minor. In the Bronze Age, it formed the tip of a headland connected to the mainland. Centrally located among the islands of the Dodecanese, the location with its two natural harbours offered excellent conditions for the establishment of a logistics center within the Minoan Southeast Aegean trade and communication network.From 2006 to 2013, systematic annual excavations took place within the framework of the Didyma project of the German Archaeological Institute. The fieldwork on Tavşan Adası and the ongoing analysis of the finds and features are groundbreaking contributions to the clarification of the little studied Early, Middle and the initial Late Bronze Age of Ionia and Caria prior to the so-called Mycenaean impact. A further expected outcome of the project is an essential contribution towards the understanding of the character and cause of the so-called “Minoisation” of the South Eastern Aegean in the first half of the 2nd millennium B.C. Since the end of 2015, the DFG has funded the processing and evaluation of the excavation in the project "The Bronze Age settlement on the peninsula of Tavşan Adası and the later resettlement up to the Byzantine period - Archaeological investigations north of the ancient port of Didyma, Western Turkey". The focus of this project lies on the Bronze Age ceramics, the early Byzantine contexts and finds, the accompanying scientific investigations and finally the preparation of the manuscripts for publication. In the eastern and northeastern areas of the present island early Byzantine strata were encountered, which indicate the existence of a private monastery complex between the 5th and the mid- 7th century. The three phases of construction of the monastery concern of the building of the chapel, the refectory and other adjacent rooms, as well as a well for water supply. A small cemetery was also found. The analysis of the development of the monastery complex is closely linked to the settlement history of the early Byzantine episcopal seat of Didyma or Ιερον. An important contribution to the exploration of the cultural-historical and the economic background of church building along the Carian coast in the 5th to the mid- 7th century can finally be made. The evaluation of the early Byzantin contexts and findings lies in the hands of K. Rauh, whose originally two-year approved place has to be extended by another 16 months. The position of our technical illustrator has also be extended by 24 months, as this is indispensable both for the completion of the manuscripts of the early Byzantine period and for the Bronze Age ceramics.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants