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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Çanacik Tepe |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Sanctuary |
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Altitude:
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m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Mugla |
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District:
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Milas |
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Village:
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Kiyikislacik |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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Hellenistic Roman |
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| Location: It lies to the north of the ancient city of Iassos at the Kiyikislacik Village; 26 km northwest of the Milas District of the Mugla Province [Baldoni et al. 2004:141]. |
| Geography and Environment: The small sanctuary area located on a projection of the Kazikli Mountain bordering the Iassos Plain to the east was built overlooking the Mandalya Gulf. |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: Surveys were conducted in the city in 1988-89;1990; 1992 and 1993-97 under the direction of Rocca from the Pisa University. |
| Stratigraphy: |
| Small Finds: |
| Remains: The surveys conducted at the Mandalya Gulf revealed that this region had been inhabited from the Archaic Period. Cora is very important for the economy of the city. New buildings for public and private use in Iassos should have been built owing to the marble quarries used since the Hellenistic Period [Benoit 2003:342]. Temple/Sanctuary Area: The sanctuary area consisting of the main building and a "L"-shaped structure is most probably connected to Artemis; the mother goddess of the ancient city of Iassos. The main building with a rectangular plan consists of three chambers. It was found out that the natural space in the mid-chamber used to be a primitive cult area during the initial phase; and then it was covered to place a cult group over it. It is presumed that Artemis stood in the middle with two goats on sides. The sculpture of a female uncovered with a broken head and legs wearing a peplos in front of the temple; most probably represents Artemis; who was depicted here as Potnia Theron; i.e. the ruler of animals. It is already known that such depictions uniting the Greek and Anatolian goddesses are common in Anatolia. The terracotta votive figures defined as Zeus indicate that the sanctuary area was dedicated to gods; other than Artemis; particularly to Zeus; one of the main Carian gods. The Rhodian; Myndosian and Halicarnassus coins from the Hellenistic Period are an indication of the well recognition of the sanctuary outside the city. Based on the potsherds and coins; it can be dated back to between 180-160 BC while the group of sculptures in the main building should have been placed at least 100 years later. It is suggested that the lower level of the two-story service building to the southwest of the sanctuary area was used for storage purposes. It should have at least two phases [Rocca 1992a:63-64; 1999:548]. Necropolis/Graves: Between the south of Canacik Tepe and the Milas-Kazikli road lie small farms consisting of simple houses and another farm which might have been connected with the necropolis. Next to this area; there are two tombs which have been previously disturbed. Their construction technique indicates the beginning of the Hellenistic Period. The farms; arable fields in the neighbourhood and graves were probably related. An inscription from the Hellenistic Period was uncovered in an Ottoman cemetery to the west of Canacik [Benoit 2003:341-342]. Miscellaneous: To the immediate north of Canacik Tepe lie some Lelegian houses. One of them with an eliptical plan was built by the dry wall technique; and it consists of three rectangular chambers [Rocca 1994b:178]. |
| Interpretation and Dating: |
