Ephesos: Periurban Research

Along the Harbor Channel areas were surveyed that had previously been geophysically surveyed and showed densely built as well as undeveloped areas. Although the surface finds do not demonstrate any differences in terms of quantity, their composition differs. The overrepresented cooking wares and amphorae indicate domestic use in the built-up area while the material from the other areas can either be related with necropoleis or also with secondary leveling. The pottery begins in the late Hellenistic period and reaches to the 5^th/6^th century CE; Byzantine finds are entirely lacking.

The region to the south and southeast of the Magnesian Gate and reaching to the modern village Acarlar belongs to the suburban area of Ephesos. It is interesting to observe that -– unlike along the harbor channel – different artifact frequencies were registered. The highest density was identified immediately outside the fortification and likely represents urban waste disposal behavior. Misfired pottery provide information on the presence of pottery producing workshops in this area. The high concentration of bricks in individual fields probably originate from tombs as is confirmed by fragments of burial inscriptions. The processing of agricultural goods is evidenced by remains of presses and mills.

The suburban structures in the northwest of the city directly adjacent to the Roman harbor are geophysically particularly informative. Here a dense, multi-phase development and an irregular street grid emerges. In a research project organized as a dissertation the geophysical basic data must be evaluated and archaeologically interpreted. The analysis of the geoarchaeological results are also intended on a micro level. Based on these evaluations, a reconstruction of the city and its landscape will be attempted that will do justice to the complexity and dynamics of the settlement center of Ephesos.

Very little is known of the rural settlements in the immediate vicinity of Ephesos. Villages are mentioned in inscriptions but so far not one has been excavated. Additionally, there must have been numerous villas, namely both agricultural establishments as well as luxurious country estates of wealthy Ephesian citizens. A large villa 10,000 m² in size was discovered with ground-penetrating radar 4 km west of the city. The layout follows the type of an Eckrisalit (pavilion) villa known from the northwestern provinces and is dated through surface finds to the 2^nd/3^rd century CE. A second villa was documented to the south east of Ephesos.

Furthermore, stray finds testify to numerous villages in the surroundings of the city as well as the adjacent valleys. However, their exploration is still at the beginning and until now has depended on random finds.