|
|
|
| The results of the 1996 season suggested that Bronze Age, Roman and early Byzantine settlement were particularly extensive in the hinterland of Sinop. Bronze Age settlements were widely scattered across the promontory, built into naturally occuring hillocks like at Kocagoz, seen below. Roman and early Byzantine settlements were concentrated for the most part in the valleys opening onto the sea. A few Roman sites, mostly cemeteries, were recorded in the foothills, like the stone-lined grave at Oren tepe, seen below. |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| Remains of several early Byzantine structures with marble columns and mosaics were found at along the shore 10 km south of Sinop at Kiraztepe. These may be the remnants of prosperous suburban villages and villas that extended between Sinop port and the industrial center on the coast at Demirci. The site of Demirci is currently being excavated by Dr. D. Kassab-Tezgör in collaboration with the Sinop Museum (Kassab-Tezgör and Tatlican 1997). Another important early Byzantine church has undergone a successful excavation and conservation program, led by Dr. S. Hill (Warwick University) and the Sinop Museum (Hill 1995; Tatlican 1997). It is not easy to survey the coast for several km south of Sinop because sand mining and building activity there in recent decades have distorted the archaeological record considerably. |
 |
 |
|
|
|
| The Muslim Seljuks overcame Sinope in the early 13th century CE. A century
of disruption followed the Seljuk takeover, as their Christian rivals
the Comneni at Trebizond (originally a Greek colony founded by Sinope!)
struggled to take the port from them. The Seljuks adorned the town
of Sinope with beautiful stone buildings, like the Yali hamam (seaside
baths), and Pervane medrese (see "Sinop History"
page). However, the countryside became desolate and underpopulated.
Few towns interrupted the vast inland forests. In Seljuk and Ottoman times,
caravanserais and villages were sprinkled along roadways, offering hospitality
to visitors. The villages were often too small to support a mosque,
so several villages would often share a large one, like the one we found
at Dedekoy (see below). |
|
|
|
|
|
| William Hamilton traveled through the Sinop interior in the mid 1830's. He recorded the rugged geology, exotic ethnography and rich history of Sinop's hinterland vividly. Many of his observations still hold true today. |
Woodcut: Hamilton's upland journey,
|
Upland village of Sariboga, Sinop |
|
| "The view from the heights was very extensive, to the S.W. the chain of mountains called Elek Dagh was most conspicuous, while the valley of the Kara Su lay before us to the south... A few minutes before eight, after emerging from the forest, we reached a small yaila, or summer village, the wooden huts of which are probably not very different from those alluded to by Xenophon... They are on the sloping side of a hill, and consist of two floors or apartments: that which is entered from the lower ground, and is the smalest of the two, having a kind of shed supported by wooden pillars in front, serves as the stable; while the other, which is entered from the higher ground, ... is the dwelling..." W.J. Hamilton, Researches in Asia Minor (1842). | ||
| By the conclusion of the 1996 season, our objectives had been reached.
It was clear that a multi-level strategy would be needed to study
settlement in the region, since conditions were vastly different in coastal
and upland regions. Coastal regions have been largely cleared
for modern agriculture and offer good visibility for us to study settlement
patterns using systematic
survey (see 1997 and 1998-99 survey descriptions). Because
plant life grows abundantly in this region, detecting sites is almost
impossible except where agriculture has been practiced. Therefore
our systematic survey has been limited to areas under cultivation or which
have been cleared. Upland forested areas must be examined
using an opportunistic survey methodology,
that allows us to collect what information is available without distorting
the validity of the patterns established in the systematic survey.
Underwater remote sensing along the shore is likely to help us understand urban settlement in Roman and Byzantine times, and earlier. So many monuments are literally falling into the sea that is impossible to investigate the ancient shore to the South of Sinope without such a program. Beyond the ancient shore investigations can sample places where small ports are more and less likely, to test ancient shipping routes. Roman sites have been detected in most small seaside valleys, helping to guide the design of the underwater research. |