The archaeological research and excavations carried out at Mount Nif (Kemalpaşa, Turkey), located east of Izmir (Smyrna), revealed a group of Byzantine structures in Başpınar, near the Byzantine Nymphaion. The archaeological finds proved the religious context of these buildings which are newly presented to Byzantine Studies. With the excavations, three buildings (A, B, and C), dating between the 10th and 13th centuries AD, have been unearthed in Başpınar. Frescoes were found on the walls of the churches A and B, and opus sectile flooring was found on the central floor of church B. The crown glasses found with their plasters and marble window frames are among the striking surviving finds. In addition to the anonymous folles dated between 976-1035 AD and 1042-1050 AD, Ioannes II Komnenos, Theodoros I and Ioannes III coins found during excavations provide significant evidence for the occupation phases of the buildings. The unique finds and the architectural features of the Başpınar religious buildings in this fertile countryside would bring to mind a monastery associated with the Capital. New proposals on the chronology and restitution of the Başpınar religious buildings will be presented in the following papers within this session through spatial, statistical, and post-excavational analysis of the excavated parts. The data obtained from the systematic archaeological excavations of Başpınar religious buildings and latest preliminary findings presented here will make new contributions to Byzantine Studies on this under-researched region.
The Mount Nif (Olympus) is located to the east of the Gulf of Izmir (Smyrna), around the borders of the modern districts of Kemalpaşa, Torbalı, Buca and Bornova. Following the first archaeological excursions by Istanbul University between 1999–2001 in the region, the archaeological surveys continued between 2004–2005 with excavations continuing since 2006 with the permission…
Les fouilles archéologiques du groupe de structures de Başpınar ont débuté en 2007 et ont continué sans interruption jusqu’à la saison de fouilles de 2013. Entre 2014 et 2025, aucune recherche à plein temps n’a été menée, à l’exception des travaux de protection et des fouilles limitées, jusqu’à ce que des projets de conservation permanents…
The ceramic finds in this paper were found in the remains of two churches with at least two phases, called Başpınar A and B structures, on the southern slopes of Mount Nif (Olympos), and from the remains of Structure C, which is earlier than the other churches located to the south of Structure B. A…
In und um den Başpınar-Kirchenkomplex kamen eine Vielzahl von Spolien zu Tage. Leider befinden sich die wenigsten in ihrem sekundären Einsatzort in situ. Vor allem die Marmorteile wurden aus ihrem Verband herausgerissen, um vor Ort zum Kalk verarbeitet zu werden. Für weitere Zerstörung sorgte der Bau eines kleinen Wohnhauses auf den Ruinen im 20. Jahrhundert….
Les fouilles archéologiques des édifices religieux de Başpınar ont débuté en 2007 et ont été temporairement suspendues en 2013 en raison de la mise en œuvre de mesures de protection. Entre 2014 et 2025, le site a fait l’objet de travaux limités de nettoyage, de conservation, de documentation et d’aménagement paysager. Durant cette période, des…
Excavations at the Byzantine Complex of Başpınar, on the southern slopes of Mount Nif, were suspended in 2013 due to unresolved conservation challenges. This paper explores in-situ conservation strategies aimed at mitigating deterioration risks in interrupted archaeological excavation sites. Based on literature review, field observations and context analysis, three alternative scenarios—selective reburial, inclusive protection, and…