Aizanoi

Aizanoi/Çavdarhisar. Ancient city in southwestern Kütahya. Survey and sondages in the city and surroundings

Study of settlements in Central Anatolia

Location

Roman city in western Central Anatolia. Location: Municipality of Çavdarhisar, ca 50 km southwest of the Province capital of Kütahya. Extensive ruins with well preserved Temple of Zeus, two Roman baths, theater, stadium, ancient bridges, stoas, and necropoleis. Excavations of the DAI in 1926 and 1928, as well as continuous investigation and excavation since 1970.

Objectives

The goal of the DAI is to investigate various aspects of Anatolian settlement from early antiquity throughout the floruit of Roman imperial times and into late antiquity, clarifying as well the relationship with nearby recent village ruins. Limited modern construction and the excellent preservation of the ancient remains make Aizanoi an ideal site for community layout in the archaeology of Central Anatolia.  

Current Work

The principal concentration at present centers upon the area of the Temple of Zeus, the elevated plateau of which has been under investigation since 1996. In addition, various projects on architectural ornament, ceramics, numismatics, the history of the theater-stadium complex, and the necropoleis, as well as on the inscriptions from the site and the neighboring villages.Inscriptions from Aizanoi 

Results

The first excavations in 1926 and 1928 involved the investigation of the Temple of Zeus and the immediate surroundings. The work was resumed in 1970, continued and published. From 1978 onward, in addition to the investigation of several smaller ancient structures, work concentrated upon the clearing of the large gymnasium and thermal complex north of the temple, and in 1980 began the excavation of a large rise at the northeast of the site. Exposed here was another thermal complex with rich mosaics built into an older structure. 1982 to 1990 saw excavation and documentation of the stadium to clarify the relationship between the entire theater-stadium complex. Since 1990 the focus has centered upon the historical topography and development of Aizanoi. All visible remains from antiquity as well as those of the recent village have been newly documented, the Roman bridges studied, and the ancient network of streets investigated through mapping and sondages. A colonnaded street of late antiquity excavated and restored from 1992 to 1995 revealed reused members of an early imperial Artemision, the existence of which had been previously unknown at Aizanoi. Work underway since 1996 near the Temple of Zeus has established that the plateau on which the structure stands represents a prehistoric settlement mound, the summit of which was leveled for the construction. The most recent efforts have concentrated on the stratigraphy of this mound and on a final analysis of the theater-stadium complex. In addition, the numerous early Christian monuments scattered across the entire Aizanitis have been investigated and documented (see results of the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003-2006 seasons). 

Cooperation

The work of the DAI in Aizanoi has been undertaken with the permission of the General Directorate of Museums and Monuments in Ankara and the Archaeological Museum of Kütahya. Insofar as possible, a share in our efforts is granted to advanced students of archaeology, architecture, geodesics, and geophysics who are working on relevant topics and demonstrate particular interest in the problems and questions of Anatolian archaeology. 

Further Contact Partners

Prof. Dr. Ralf von den Hoff
Klassische Archäologie
Universität Freiburg
Fahnenbergplatz
D - 79089 Freiburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 761 - 2033072/3
E-mail: vd.hoff@archaeologie.uni-freiburg.de

Bibliography

R. Naumann, Der Zeustempel zu Aizanoi, Berlin 1979; B. Levick u.a. (Hrsg.), Monuments from the Aizanitis recorded by C. W. M. Calder, A. Cameron, and J. Cullen, Monumenta Asiae Minoris Antiqua Bd. IX, London 1988. - Vorberichte zu den neueren Grabungen erscheinen regelmäßig im Archäologischen Anzeiger.