A Probable Site of Pre-Hellenistic Knidos

An Archaeological-Environmental Impact Assessment Project sponsored by the Middle East Technical University, Center for Research and Evaluation of Historical Environment (TAÇDAM)

The ruins of Hellenistic Knidos lie at Tekir on the tip of Datça Peninsula at the very southwestern corner of Anatolian mainland. In 1952, G.E. Bean and J.M. Cook suggested that the city of Knidians had been moved to Tekir located on the tip of the Peninsula in the fourth century B.C. from Burgaz, a site mid-way along the southern coast of the peninsula near present day Datça. To check the validity of hypothesis suggested by Bean and Cook, Dr.. N. Tuna began the archaeological survey in Datça Peninsula in the early 1980s.

The mud-brick blocks of a broken wall in NE sector (4th century B.C.)

A late classical reddish-brown glazed kylix

The archaeological site at Burgaz is situated some 2 km northeast of modern Datça which is the main urban center of Datça Peninsula. The site is located along the shelving coast at a point where a small promontory commands 12 m. high to the sea . The promontory was enclosed in a fortified perimeter about 400 m. long.

The fortification walls show a mixture of irregular ashlar and trapezoidal with polygonal work in construction dating of c. 400 B.C. To the southwest of the fortified area is a shallow bay, in which the foundations of towers and moles for two small harbours dating the fourth century B.C. Over the whole area pottery is abundant on the surface; but heavily eroded parts of landsurface on slopes, there is a high proportion of earlier wares ranging from the eight to fourth century B.C. The promontory is surrounded on northern side, by an extensive ancient habitation areas about 45 hectares, along which scanty remains of outer perimeter of fortification walls are visible.

To the northeastern, along the shelving beach the remains of sunken moles and various foundations indicate harbour installation extended during Hellenistic period. After the late 1980s, the dramatic environmental change has started in Datça Peninsula within which modern urban developments led to the destruction of fragile archaeological deposits at Burgaz. Hence, archaeological excavations at Burgaz has been initiated under the scientific directorship of TAÇDAM, the Middle East Technical University to rescue the archaeological heritage in danger by the campaign of 1993 onwards.

The main work in the campaigns of 1993,1994 and 1995 concentrated on exploring the extent and chronology of occupation across the various sectors of the site. Excavations at Burgaz have brought to light ancient habitation levels dating back to 8th century B.C. The excavation and geophysical survey results so far yielded that pre-fourth century occupation levels had been extended and deeply buried over 2 m. below the existing topsoil, whereas the Hellenistic and Roman levels show scattered tombs with sporadic habitation areas in mixed use of agricultural processing and storage activities.

A fragment of Attic black-figured oinochoe with lancers from NE. 4.7.D8

Fragment of Archaic B.F.