In search of the harbours: New evidence of Late Roman and Byzantine harbours of Ephesus

Abstract

Ephesus (Greek name: Ephesos) in Western Turkey was an important harbour city during Antiquity. The progradation of the Küçük Menderes delta has continuously shifted the coastline westwards. Thus, along with the delta progradation, new harbour sites had to be established in a western direction. Historical sources refer to different harbours. While much is known about the Roman and older ones, the exact location of the ports and the coastline in late Roman and Byzantine times is still an open question.This article presents the results of geoarchaeological research in the area located along the southern flank of the Küçük Menderes graben near Ephesus. Sediments from cores were examined with geochemical, sedimentological, and microfaunal analyses. These data were combined with the study of ancient maps and satellite images. The chronological framework was rendered by AMS-14C ages and diagnostic ceramics. The farthermost inland shoreline dates from 5000 BC; since then, delta progradation has continuously shifted the shoreline westwards. Çanakgöl, today a little lake to the west of the city of Ephesus is identified as the harbour site in late Roman and Byzantine times. This harbour persisted at least until the 16th century AD. Further, a landing site with a pier was discovered west of Çanakgöl, presumably dating to the late Byzantine–Ottoman times.