Beçin findings shed light on 700-year history

MUĞLA

New archaeological findings in the ancient city of Beçin, the capital of Menteşe Beylic in Milas district of the western province of Muğla, reveal the social, commercial and cultural life of 700 years ago.

In the ancient city, which was included in the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage in 2012, excavations have been carried out regularly. Many artifacts were unearthed during the works and the surviving historical buildings were restored and added to tourism.

This year’s works have recently started in the ancient city under the leadership of Kadir Pektaş.

Pektaş said that the ceramics, which were unearthed in 2018 in the ancient city’s historical street, were locally produced, adding, “In some of the glazed and unglazed ceramic plates, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, we found the ‘signature of ateliers’ and found important clues about the exports and imports in that period. They were used in daily life. The signatures on the plates show that an important part of ceramics were produced in Beçin and around.”

He said that a few pieces that were imported from Europe revealed the existence of imports during that period, adding that the findings also gave important clues about the Middle Age and the commercial life there.

The ceramics had natural human and plant compositions, Pektaş said, adding that they revealed people’s eating and drinking habits as well as their entertainment culture.

[HH] Ceramic toy found

Pektaş said that along with the ceramic bowls, metal jewelries, arrow heads and coins, they also found a ceramic toy during excavations.

“The findings show the Anatolian culture to us. Among the ceramic findings, we found toys for children. We found only one toy in the previous years, but this year we got the others. Thanks to these findings, we have the ceramics context of this era. They reveal everything about the social structure in Middle Age. The glass findings are very important. After their restoration, some of them were delivered to the Milas Museum.”

He said that works still continued on the other artifacts and they would find important pieces this year, too.

“This year we focus on restoration and protection. But we will also finish the excavations that we started last year.”