KELAINAI – APAMEE KIBOTOS : A PHRYGIAN METROPOLIS AT THE CROSSROADS OF CULTURES
Askold Ivantchik (Ausonius, CNRS, UB3)
Principal partners:
UMR 5060 IRAMAT-CRP2A (University of Bordeaux 3 – CNRS)
UMR 5199 PACEA (University of Bordeaux 1 – CNRS)
Classical Archaeology Institute, University of Munich, Germany
“Heritage” Archaeology Institute, Stavropol, Russia
Centre for Compared Research on Ancient Civilisations, Russian Academy of Sciences
Other partners:
UMR 5138 Archaeometry & Archaeology (University of Lyon 2 – CNRS)
Ancient History and Archaeology Institute, University of Afyon, Turkey, Archaelogical Museum of Afyon, Turkey
Financing: €32,500
Duration: 2 years (1st January 2012 – 31st December 2013)
The Phrygian city of Kelanai/Apameia Kibôtos is described by Strabo as the biggest commercial centre of Asia after Ephesus. During the Achaemenid Empire (546-334 BC), it was the only place of royal residence in Asia Minor. In the Hellenistic period, the city remained a royal place for the Seleucides; it stayed important in the Roman period as well. However, the city has never been the object of an archaeological study. A prospection project, jointly financed by the ANR and the DFG (2008-2010) was a way to put forward several hypotheses on the topography of the ancient city and the organisation of its territory. The discovery of 98 inscriptions, among which 72 are unique (especially a Lydian inscription), also broadened our knowledge of the site’s history. This project is in the line and reflects the development of the research started in 2008. The issues raised during the prospections must now be checked by targeted archaeological surveys.