Kiln and tomb found 35 years later in Kelenderis

In the ancient city of Kelenderis, which was established 2,800 years ago on the Mediterranean coast in Mersin and whose excavations have been going on for 35 years, a kiln for commercial production and a child’s tomb buried with glass bracelets and gifts were found for the first time this year.

Head of Excavation Assoc. Dr. Mahmut Aydın : “Excavations have been carried out since 1987. We have unearthed a child’s tomb with glass bracelets and burial gifts for the first time in nearly 150 tombs around the Odeon.”

“We came up with a kiln that excited us, we knew there was a production here for years, but we couldn’t find their kiln.”

In the ancient city of Kelenderis, which is located next to the fisherman’s shelter in the Aydıncık district on the Mersin-Antalya D400 highway, the excavation and restoration/conservation works started in 1987 continue uninterruptedly.

For the first time, the skeleton of a child, who was buried with 4 solid glass bracelets on his arm, gifts, clothes and a wooden coffin, was found in the ancient city, where nearly 150 tombs were found around the Odeon in 35 years. In addition, during the excavations carried out in the region, the kiln, which is thought to be used for tile production, was unearthed for the first time, documenting commercial production.

Found a kiln documenting production in Kelenderis

Batman University Archeology Department Head Assoc. Dr. Mahmut Aydın said, “We knew that there was a production here for years, but we could not find their kiln. We uncovered a 1,300-year-old kiln. We think that roof tiles were produced inside our kiln. Because in the excavations we carried out last year and this year, a large amount of roof tiles dating to the 7th century were found. Right at the mouth of our kiln, there was also a large amount of mismanufactured roof tiles. We found the roof tiles scattered around it, as they were manufactured incorrectly and were of no commercial importance. When we completely emptied the inside of the kiln, we may find even more faulty roof tiles. ” said.

A tomb with bracelets and gifts appeared for the first time around the Odeon

Reminding that they reached a child’s tomb during the excavations, the Head of the Excavation Assoc. Aydın said, “We uncovered nearly 150 tombs here, but none of them had burial gifts. In this, we uncovered 4 glass bracelets, an inscription on a ceramic piece, and a cup. At the same time, there were several baby tombs around this child’s tomb. “That area of ​​our odeon was used as a children’s burial area. We think that the child’s tomb belongs to the Middle Ages. Of course, we will be able to identify them more clearly when our carbon 14 analysis results come in. But both from the glass bracelets found and from the previous tomb that this area was used as a burial site in the Middle Ages.” We also know from our structures. We are talking about a child who was buried in his clothes, which was found in a different way. Because we know that he was buried in a wooden coffin with the buttons of his clothes, because the nails of the coffin remain in place. “We will be able to determine when he died,” he said. .

Prof. Dr. Aydın also added that 12 months of uninterrupted excavation and repair works were carried out in order to bring the ancient city of Kelenderis together with the visitors.