Claros Sanctuary excavations continue

Excavations at Claros Sanctuary have been the longest-running excavations ongoing under Ege University's Archaeology Department, says excavation head Associate Professor Onur Zunal, while shedding light on how Claros emerged as a prophecy center in the past.

Located within the borders of İzmir's Menderes neighborhood, the Claros Sanctuary is one of the most important sacred areas of Ionia, as well as the oldest oracle center, as proved by the excavations carried out so far.

It is located south of Menderes, on the bottom plain of the Ahmetbeyli Valley, which connects the plain to the Gulf of Kuşadası in the south. Ahmetbeyli Valley is an important junction point providing transportation between the cities of Smyrna and Ephesus. The main cities of Claros, an exurban sanctuary, are 13 kilometers away from Kolophon in the north and 1.6 kilometers away from Notion in the south.

Speaking about the first research carried out in the excavation area, Zunal said, "According to ancient texts and archaeological data, the first systematic research in Claros, which is known to have been founded in the 13th century B.C., was carried out by Carl Schuchhardt in 1886, while Theodor Macridy carried out the first excavation in 1907. He started excavations after making a small drilling there on the eroded surface of the only column left under the fill."

"Loius Robert and Jeanne Robert conducted excavational works between 1950 and 1961, while Juliette de La Genière carried out works between 1988 and 1997. Since 2001, Ege University faculty members and staff have been following up on excavations, research and restoration works there. Works were carried out under the direction of Nuran Şahin between 2001 and 2019 and have been ongoing under my scientific...