Bilkent Labraunda Team
My blogs
| Introduction | In 2018, a group of six students from the Archaeology Department of Bilkent University participate in the research projects of Labraunda, both survey and excavation. The following blog aims at sharing this experience. Labraunda is located in the southwestern part of Turkey, in the region of Mugla. It lies some 15 km north-east of the modern town of Milas. Labraunda has a long history as its first remains date back to the early Bronze Age. Its apex was reached in the 4th century BC, when the Hekatomnid dynasts, among which the famous Maussollos, decided to transform this modest sanctuary into a large political, economical and religious center with a regional impact. From this date on, Labraunda sheltered an important sanctuary dedicated to the local Zeus Labraundos, the Axe (Labrys) carrier. The christianization of the site, in the 4th-5th century AD, saw the construction of two churches which competed for a time with the pagan cult. The occupation of Labraunda lasted until the 13th century AD. Excavations at Labraunda has been going on since 1948. For more information on the site and the excavations: www.labraunda.org |
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