City and Countryside in Byzantine Anatolia: Amorium

Year 2024, , 177 - 197, 30.09.2024

Chris Lightfoot

https://doi.org/10.56170/propontica.1530180

Abstract

Amorium is a key site for the period AD 700-900 owing to its historical importance as the capital of the Anatolic Theme. The well preserved remains provide an exceptional opportunity to study the layout and function of the Byzantine city and its excavation sheds light on the transition, modification, and continuity of the settlement between the Late Roman and Byzantine periods. The evidence from twenty years of excavation points to the existence of a large and prosperous city during Early and Middle Byzantine times, where various trades and crafts were practised and which served as the centre of a vibrant rural community engaged in agriculture as well as animal husbandry. The destruction layers from the capture of Amorium by the Arabs in 838 create a fixed horizon and reference point for the entire archaeology and material culture of early to mid-ninth century Anatolia. Pottery and coin finds in particular provide good indicators of the level and nature of economic activity. In this study some conclusions are drawn from that material, and discussion of it is set in the context of other sites and the interpretation of finds there. The evidence from Amorium presents new insights that appear at odds with accepted views of the Byzantine world in the Early Middle Ages.

Keywords

Byzantine, Anatolia, Amorium, pottery, coinage

Supporting Institution

Hiç

Thanks

Prof. Dr. Zeliha Demirel-Gökturk'e teşekkğrlerimi sunuyorum

Bizans Anadolusu’nda Şehir ve Kırsal Bölge: Amorium

Abstract

Amorium, Bizans Anadolu Teması'nın başkenti olarak tarihi önemi nedeniyle MS 700-900 dönemi için seçkin bir arkeolojik alandır. İyi korunmuş kalıntılar, Bizans şehrinin planını ve işlevini incelemek için olağanüstü bir fırsat sağlıyor ve burada yapılan kazılar, yerleşimin Geç Roma ve Bizans dönemleri arasındaki geçişine, değişimine ve sürekliliğine ışık tutuyor. Yirmi yıllık kazılardan elde edilen kanıtlar, çeşitli ticaret ve zanaatların uygulandığı ve hayvancılığın yanı sıra tarımla da uğraşan canlı kırsal topluluğun merkezi olarak hizmet veren Erken ve Orta Bizans dönemlerinde büyük, gelişen ve zengin bir şehrin varlığına işaret ediyor. Amorium’un 838’de Araplar tarafından yağma edilmesinden sonraki yıkım katmanları, dokuzuncu yüzyılın başlarından ortalarına kadar Anadolu’nun tüm arkeolojisi ve maddi kültürü için sabit bir tabaka ve verimli bir referans noktası oluşturuyor. Özellikle çanak çömlek parça ve bakır alaşımı sikke buluntuları ekonomik faaliyetin düzeyi ve doğası hakkında iyi göstergeler sağlar. Bu çalışmada Amorium’da bulumuş olan materyalden bazı sonuçlar çıkarılmış ve diğer sit alanları ve oradaki bulguların yorumlanması bağlamında tartışılmıştır. Amorium’dan elde edilen kanıtlar, Erken Ortaçağ’da Bizans dünyasına ilişkin şimdiye kadar kabul edilen bilimsel görüşlerle çelişen yeni bilgiler sunuyor.

Keywords

Bizans, Anadolu, Amorium, seramik, sikke

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