Daily life examined in Byzantine religious center

Ancient life and traditions on the Giresun Island are being examined in archaeological excavations carried out in a monastery complex on the Black Sea island, reputed as a significant religious center in the Byzantine era. 

The Giresun Island is famous for myths like the Argonauts (a band of Greek heroes), including Hercules, who came to the island to find the Golden Fleece under the leadership of Jason. Excavations there were initiated in 2011 and have been continuing since then. 

In the first week of the works that have been continuing in the fields of the biggest structures of the island, a church, tower and monastery, ruins of some structures and six tombs, buried with Byzantine burial traditions, were unearthed.

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, academic consultant for the excavations and a member of Celal Bayar University's history of arts department, Gazanfer İltar, said they found several artifacts even though they just started digging the field. 

He said among the most important findings of this year are the pieces of frescoes in yellow, red and green colors, which are supposed to be pieces of the church.
 
"We have never found pieces of frescoes in previous excavations. We also found mosaic pieces that we think belong to a palace under the church. Also, we found traces of foundations of some structures," he said. 

Field damaged by illegal diggings 

İltar said the excavation field has many tombs but most of them were destroyed because of their proximity to the surface. 

"Because of illegal excavations on the island, the field was unfortunately destroyed. Especially the mosaics of the palace under the church are torn to pieces. The first anthropological examinations in...