1997 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Excavation and Survey of Early Medieval Sites in Lycia
| Project/Area Number |
07041011
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | Field Research |
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| Research Field |
Fine art history
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| Research Institution | Aichi University of Education |
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Principal Investigator |
ASANO Kazuo Aichi Univ.of Education, Faculty of Education, associate professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (80167890)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
SUGII Takeshi Osaka University, Faculty of Letters, research assistant, 文学部, 助手 (90263178)
NAKATANI Koji Ehime University, Faculty of Education, associate professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (30217749)
FUKUNAGA Shinya Osaka University, Faculty of Letters, associate professor, 文学部, 助教授 (50189958)
MASUDA Tomoyuki Women s College of Art, associate professor, 助教授 (70257236)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1995 – 1997
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| Keywords | Middle ages / Art history / Archaeology / History of architecture / History of Byzantium / Excavation / Maritime transportation / Christian culture |
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| Research Abstract |
We continued the excavation workof Church III on Gemiler Island, Southwest Turkey, which started in 1995.
In the previous seasons the apse with a synthronon, the bema (sanctuary) and the altar have already excavated. In addition to them the excavation work this year revealed the original construction of a part of the nave and the aisle of the church, which include a templon (chancel screen) and a solea (passageway for clerics). These are all important material for the Study not only of the history of architecture but also of the 1iturgy.
The floors of the nave and aisle are decorated with mosaics of geometric patterns and floral ornaments. Tesserae of the mosaics include various kinds of stones and glass. The study of the mosaic helps the dating of the church building.
In the nave and the aisle we discovered 6 tombs, which were made in the l2th century, after the church was destroyed. The analysis of the strata of the excavated area shows that Church III was built in the 6th century and burnt down in the mid-7th century during the extensive attack of Arabs in this region. The new discovery of the tombs tells that the ruinous church was converted into a graveyard in the middle Byzantine period when the Byzantine Empire recovered this district.
We drew plans, elevations, sections of the building and tombs, and the section of the strata of the excavated area. Finds were all catalogd and then stored in the Fethiye Museum, observing the law of the Republic of Turkey.
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