An Archaeology of Emptiness. Haymana or the Prairie in Roman and Byzantine Times

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of an extensive survey in and around the modern town of Haymana in Galatia, central Turkey. The area is not known for any major ancient city, and the finds would seem to represent Roman and Byzantine life in rural Anatolia. An outstanding funerary relief of the Saokondarios family appears to be the earliest discovery and to represent the ancient Galatian dynasty of that name. Numerous later Roman tomb stones are also carved with figural reliefs, some in the shape of doorstones. A cave tomb of Pelagia was later engraved with Christian symbols and the attribute martyr added to the deceased’s name, suggesting that she was likened to, or identified with, the homonymous Diocletian martyr. Larger, communal cave cemeteries likely date from the Byzantine period. Early Byzantine architectural sculpture was probably employed in churches that are also attested by liturgical furnishings. The Hellenistic/Galatian hilltop fortification of Güzelcekale was rebuilt in later Byzantine times. Several other small and medium-sized hilltop fortifications with or without Galatian routes would also seem to have been (re?)built during the Byzantine period. The same is in evidence for several cave houses, some of which relate to the fortifications. The much larger fort of Taburoğlu Kalesi appears to have been newly built against the Arab invasions and could be identifiable with the bandon of Aphrazeia.