IN PURSUIT OF HISTORY
We Istanbullites do not know much about the history of our home city. I am ashamed to admit that history is so prevalent in the air that we are like spoiled children of the Mediterranean. The excavations of the past decade in the historical peninsula have introduced us to terms like "Neolithic." It may sound mundane, I know. I've always had a fascination with history, except for the Neolithic period. However, after taking archaeology classes at the university in 2015, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the breadth and depth of the history of the lands to which I belong. Maybe the land does not belong to us; we belong to it? So, once and for all, I decided to immerse myself in this fuss about Yenikapı. Therefore, I have engaged in a thorough non-technical reading about the excavations, visited the exhibition "Stories from the Hidden Harbor: Shipwrecks of Yenikapı," which showcases a small but inspiring selection of finds at the Museum of Archaeology, and pestered my archaeologist friends to extract their knowledge about the issue.
Here is the pill; here is what you need to know about Yenikapı.
What is this Marmaray project about?
The Marmaray - Marmara rail and metro projects were launched to solve the transportation problem of an ever-growing metropolis with a population of over 15 million. The projects started in 2004, and the line has been partially active since October 2013. When it is completely finished, it will be the largest subterranean rail line on the west and east axis, connecting Asia and Europe, while the metro line on the European side will ease the traffic on the north and south axis. How is this project related to the Yenikapı excavations? Yenikapı, a district in the historical peninsula, is one of the stops on the rail line, and as a result of the excavations, historical sites and artifacts dating back as far as 6,000 B.C. were revealed. That is why the headlines read "Groundbreaking discoveries!”
Did we come across the historical remains during the construction of the rail and metro lines?
No. Contrary to popular belief, it was not discovered by chance; the Theodosian port was mentioned in ancient texts and maps, and that's why the excavations started as part of the projects. Its planned inclusion within the scope of the project is actually quite an important step for archaeological studies in Turkey.
How come we keep on hearing about Yenikapı for a decade?
The initially allocated time period for the excavations was 6 months, but it soon became obvious that it was almost impossible to dig and remove the sites within such a short period of time. Therefore, it has turned into one of the biggest archaeological excavations in the world and the most extensive one so far in the city of Istanbul.
Is it really the biggest? How big is it?
It covers 8,000 years of history within an area of 58,000 square meters. Imagine a place as big as a football stadium! Also, bear in mind that this is only one of the four archaeological sites!
What about the depth?
It ranges from 3 meters above sea level to 10 meters below sea level.
Which time periods do the remains unearthed belong to?
Ottoman period: Workshops and street textures were uncovered. Ceramics, tiles and everyday items are among the finds.
Byzantine period: The remains of a church from the 12-13th century were removed to be displayed either in the archaeo-park or in the museum planned for the future. 35 shipwrecks dated 5-11th century were discovered. The lost harbor of the emperor Theodosius (379-395 AD) was uncovered. It was the largest port of its time built at the Lycos creek to cater the needs of an-ever-growing capital, Constantinople. Architectural remains exposed are 2 wharfs from the 8-9th century, and traces of sea walls. A broad range of finds include coins, perfume bottles, amphorae, leather sandals, objects of faith, black glazed pottery, nautical artifacts such as stone, wooden and iron anchors.
Classical period: Among the few finds are figurines and ceramics.
Neolithic period: Neolithic settlement with simple stone foundations, human skeletons buried in embryo position and items used in burial rituals were unearthed. And the most amazing of all was the 8000-year old traces of Neolithic people of Istanbul. When I first saw the footprints at the exhibition, I thought they were modelled. I just could not believe they could be for real. Yet, they were!!!
Why was the Theodosian port an important one?
Constantinople was a densely populated capital, and its needs had to be well taken care of. It had a fertile hinterland, which made it an important exporter of agricultural produce and raw materials. All these factors necessitated the construction of the Theodosian port, which soon turned into a busy trade center. The trade routes in the East Mediterranean were drastically interrupted by Arab raids in the 7th-8th century, as a result of which the trade shifted to the north, thereby increasing the importance of the Theodosian port. The shipwrecks and nautical artifacts reflect only one aspect of the trade that took place in the area, which is the sea trade. By the 12th century, the port had already lost its function due to alluvial silting carried by the creek.
Is the shipwreck collection big enough to open a maritime museum?
Yes, with 37 shipwrecks of different types and functions, it is the world’s biggest collection of ships that belong to the 5-11th century. A great deal of data provided insight into ancient shipbuilding techniques, ship typology and development of ship building. A maritime museum for the ships ranging from galleys to seagoing and small, local vessels is being planned for the future.
What is the explanation for 37 shipwrecks found at the harbour?
It is hypothesized that natural causes such as the lodos, the southwest wind, of the Marmara sea, sank at least 22 of the ships, some of which were found with their cargo. The rest are thought to have been abandoned as they were no longer fit to operate.
Is this the oldest Neolithic settlement in Istanbul?
Yes, it is. Though Neolithic settlements of Pendik, Yarımburgaz, Fikirtepe are today within the borders of greater Istanbul, Yenikapı is the only one at the heart of the ancient city in the historical peninsula.
What is this fuss about the Neolithic settlement?
Before the discovery of this Neolithic settlement, all evidence indicated the 8th century B.C. as the start of the settlement in the city, which in a way confirmed the legend of Byzas, who came all the way from Megara and founded Byzantion here.
So all along, we believed it to be an ancient city of 2,700 years. To our surprise, the settlement was dated to 6000 BC, which in turn pushed back the history of Istanbul by approximately 5,300 years. It is now a city of 8,000 years. Wow!
Do the findings in this settlement in any way contribute to the world’s history?
Yes. In the Neolithic settlement of Istanbul, the deceased were found in the embryo position. Ten years ago, before the excavations, it was assumed that burial did not take place in the Neolithic period. Now we know that three different types of burial rituals were practiced. 1. Cremated remains (ashes and bones) were left wherever they were. 2. Cremated remains were stored in an urn, a ritual completely unknown in Anatolian Neolithic settlements. 3. Burial in the ground (inhumation). Additionally, the discovery of wooden burial structures was quite a surprise, as the material is rare and difficult to conserve.
Do the discoveries tell anything about the evolution of Marmara sea?
Yes. The excavations and research in the past 10 years have shed light on the geological changes in the Marmara Sea and changed the date of the transformation it underwent. It was hypothesized that the Marmara Sea was transformed from a lake into a sea around 8,500 B.C. According to the theory, tectonic changes and the melting of the ice deepened the valley of the Bosphorus and raised the level of the sea, which in turn flooded the Marmara Lake. However, the 10-year excavations discovered the Neolithic settlement right in the Marmara Sea, far from the coast, which implies that it was flooded later on. When the settlement was dated to 5,800 B.C., the date of the transformation of the Marmara Sea changed as well. Wow!