Excavations in the ancient city of Sayatra (original: Soatra), in Iconium, Turkey, have brought to light the skeletons of infants, buried in clay jars. The extraordinary finds are carefully studied to gain information about the burial rituals and daily life of the area during the Early Roman Empire and Late Antiquity.
The discoveries in the Karatay area, in the Yaglibayat neighborhood, were made by archaeologists excavating in Sayatra, led by Associate Professor Ilker Isik of Selcuk University.
Excavations, uninterrupted since 2021, have shed light on an ancient civilization that once flourished in this part of Anatolia.
Rare burials with skeletons of infants and animals
Among the most exciting discoveries are two well-preserved clay jars that contained headless infant skeletons. They were found in what are considered ritual burial sites, south of the Roman-era theater in Savatra.
The lids of the jars were decorated with dog skulls, a practice that is rarely seen, both in Anatolia and in the rest of the world.
“This is an extremely rare case of burial, possibly related to religious rituals,” informs Isik, the head of the excavation.
«The jars are in almost perfect condition, and the fact that they contained the remains of an infant and a dog together suggests that these burials had important spiritual or symbolic meaning.”
The findings that were the springboard for scientific studies
Experts have launched scientific studies to analyze the findings.
Preliminary ground-penetrating radar scans by Professor Kemal Gokay have revealed, just three meters from the first burial site, a second one with more infant and animal skeletons, including bones of foxes, oxen, horses and donkeys.
This raises even more questions about the role animals played in the burial rituals of the ancient city of Savatra.
“As we expand into the burial site, we hope to uncover more evidence, which could rewrite the cultural history of Anatolia.”adds Isik.
“The ceramic fragments that have been found are between 1,500 and 1,600 years old and belong to the period between the Early Roman Empire and Late Antiquity. Every new finding can take us even further back.”
Revealing more of the secrets of the city of Savatra
Beyond the infant burials, archaeologists are also focusing on other important areas of the ancient city. A major project centers on the excavation of a large burial mound or kurgan, while work is underway to uncover the foundations of a sanctuary located on a hill to the west of the ancient theater.
With each new discovery, the ancient city of Sayatra continues to provide valuable clues about the mysterious rituals and customs of its early inhabitants, helping archaeologists better understand daily life in ancient Anatolia.
Source: www.enikos.gr
