Archaic Settlement-Contexts at Ephesos. Stratigraphy, ...

1. Title Archaic Settlement-Contexts at Ephesos. Stratigrapy, Building Phases, Pottery and Small Finds from the Excavations underneath the Tetragonos-Agora. Archaic pottery from the Theatre and from the North-Western Slopes of Panayrdag With Contributions by Michael Kerschner and Lisa Peloschek 2. Summary The publication is concerned with the settlement-contexts of the archaic period (7th and 6th centuries BC) at Ephesos. The archaeological remains of the settlement underneath the later Tetragonos-Agora, which dates between the early 7th and the mid-6th centuries BC, form the main part of the study. The settlement provided a neat stratigraphic sequence including architectonical remains, some small finds and finally a great amount of pottery fragments. All the residuals were included in the comprehensive material study, hence leading to a sound analysis and consistent interpretation. The material study has the pottery as a central topic, since the ceramics count amongst the most suitable finds when discussing different questions concerning typological, chronological and functional dimensions of archaeological relics. The vessel sherds from two additional find spots the theatre of Ephesos and the north-western slopes of Panayrdag were also included in the study. A fabrics analysis carried out under the microscope is complemented by the petrographic and geochemical investigation of the ceramics, thus adding an additional reliable scientific dimension to the archaeological research. 3. New Results The archaic settlement underneath the Tetragonos-Agora so far is the only known habitation area in Ephesos that provided architectural structures. By publishing all the archaeological remains from this settlement, archaic Ephesos for the first time will be comprehensible also beyond the well-known sanctuary of Artemis. The evaluation of the stratigraphy indicates a settlement activity divided on four main phases that can be split into six sub-phases. This neat sequence is clearly reflected by the architectural developments as well as by the pottery assemblages. Relying on the typological development of the pottery a chronological sequence was established that will be of some importance also for other sites in Ionia, where a comparably comprehensive study of settlement pottery is still waiting to be accomplished. Beyond their chronological implications the pottery remains also provide the best arguments when discussing cultural-historical and trade-related topics. The material presented in the publication illustrates for example the close, manifold, and diachronically changing ways of how Ephesos in the archaic period was connected to the nearby centres of ancient Ionia, and how it shared in the communication patterns of the Eastern Aegean. Besides to that, specific local features as well as changes in the developing material culture can be addressed. Being an archaeologically evident indicator for cultural phenomena, those material features provide an important pool of arguments for further superordinate considerations.