Ayasuluk Hill South Necropolis: Archaeological Data and Evaluation in the Context of Historical and Cultural Continuity

In 2022, excavations proceeded on an area situated south of Ayasuluk Castle, within the boundary of Atatürk Mahallesi, Selçuk district, İzmir province, under the direction of the Ephesus Archaeological Museum. Given the quantity and significance of the archaeological artifacts discovered in the area throughout the project, the excavation was reclassified as a salvage excavation. A total of 26 tombs representing seven distinct burial types were unearthed during the current excavation. The assemblage comprises 7 straightforward earth graves, 1 amphora burial, 3 amphora cenotaph burials, 8 graves with tile roofing, 4 single-sloped tile graves, 2 Klazomenai-type sarcophagi formed of baked clay, and 1 cylindrical grave made of baked clay. The tombs were located at depths between -170 cm and -450 cm beneath the surface. Typological and material assessments indicate that the burials are from the Classical, Hellenistic, and Byzantine periods. During the excavation of the Ayasuluk Hill South Necropolis, encompassing an area of approximately 180 m², seven distinct types of tombs were discovered: simple earthen tombs, amphora burials, amphora cenotaphs (burials in absentia), roof tiles, single-sloped roof tiles, Klazomenai sarcophagi, and cylindrical tombs. This diversity signifies that the necropolis was utilized by individuals from various social, economic, and cultural strata. The presence of Klazomenai sarcophagi and the distinctions between simple earthen graves and their contents indicate social disparities within the same necropolis; however, all individuals opted for the Ayasuluk Hill South Necropolis as a shared burial site.