Necropolis of kanytella: An evaluation in light of new finds

Abstract

Kanytella (Kanlidivane) is located 60 km west of Mersin and 3 km north of the Mersin-Silifke road in the eastern part of Rough Cilicia. The settlement was founded around a natural chasm. The present study aims at assessing the necropoleis of Kanytella and the tomb types therein as a whole. An exedra-type tomb, hitherto unknown in the region, newly-identified tombs, monumental tombs and a previously undocumented very rich sarcophagus collection will be presented for the first time here.The tombs are spread across a wide area and comprise a variety of tomb types, which can be categorized as follows: 1. Sarcophagi, 2. Tomb houses and tomb chambers, 3. Temple tombs, 4. Rock tombs, 5. Exedra-type tomb.Evidence available shows that the surrounding areas were used as necropoleis, and there were at least two areas of necropolis. The earliest evidence comes from the Çanakçı Necropolis, where the rock tombs found reveal the local tradition antedating the sarcophagi and monumental tombs. Inscriptions on the rock tombs are dated to the 1st century A.D. while one indicates the 2nd century A.D. Stylistic features of the reliefs on the tombs also support these dates. Rock tombs do not have a portico in their front. Their burial chambers are almost square, and their ceilings are flat or slightly rounded. There are beds cut from bedrock within the arcosolia and cut in three walls. Some have raised beds carved from bedrock. Some have two steps cut from bedrock at their doorways.hThe most common tomb type is the sarcophagi, which display a variety ranging from those with a hyposorium, with a podium, self-standing, rock sarcophagi and chamosoria. Preliminary observations show that those with a podium and with a hyposorium are the highest in number. Almost all of the sarcophagi at Kanytella are of limestone. In the ancient settlement there are also sarcophagi encircled with a wall. Chamosoria are few in number. A period starting with the 2nd century A.D. and continuing into the 3rd century is proposed for the sarcophagi in the region. This is further supported by the dating criteria determined for those at the settlement.Many examples of tomb houses have been identified at Kanytella. Tomb houses in the settlement were built with irregular small stones and mortar. They are usually rectangular in layout and covered with a vault. In the burial chamber are stone beds resting on consoles that project from the walls. In the necropolis are tomb chambers, which are smaller models of tomb houses. There are four temple tombs in the settlement; three of them have been formerly studied by scholars. Another example, quite damaged unlike the others, has been newly discovered. It is proposed that temple-type tombs began to appear in the region in the 2nd century while dating for those in the settlement starts in the second half of the 2nd century and continues into the 3rd century. These suggest that there was important building activity at Kanytella during this period.The semi-circular structure on the north side of the chasm is an exedra-type tomb as inferred from its layout. As no other structure in the region is known to have this plan, it assumes great importance.