Kuşadası Kırkayak Merdiveni open air sanctuary

Kırkayak Merdiveni is located within the borders of Kirazlı District of Kuşadası District of Aydın Province and is in a position overlooking Kuşadası Bay. The area consists of three natural steep hills. This place was first visited by C. Texier and then studies were carried out by J. Keil. In the following years, investigations were made in the field, but no comprehensive study was conducted. Researchers have suggested that this place may have been a garrison dating back to the Hellenistic Period and later. Within the scope of the Archaeological Survey of Kuşadası District and Samsun (Mykale) Mountain conducted under the direction of A. Erön in 2021-2022, the area was again examined. The strategic location of the area, the remains of fortifications and architectural structures prove that the area was used as a garrison during the Hellenistic Period. During the investigations in the area, rooms were found in the lower parts of the hills. The presence of niches on the walls of these spaces leads to the conclusion that this may have been a rock sanctuary. No systematic excavation work has been carried out at the Kırkayak Merdiveni until today. Therefore, finds related to the sanctuary could not be identified. When the rock sanctuaries in the Ionia Region are analyzed, such rock sanctuaries are associated with the mother goddess Cybele. In this context, it is thought that the Kırkayak Merdiveni may also be a rock sanctuary belonging to the mother goddess. A large number of ceramic sherds were also found during the surveys. The finds were recovered from the western slope of the hills and the area to the east. The finds and remains indicate that the area was in continuous use from the Late Bronze Age to the Roman Period. Since the majority of the finds found in the area are dated to the early periods and the presence of niches on the walls of the rooms indicate that this area was used as a sanctuary in the early periods and as a garrison with the construction of the city wall in the Hellenistic Period.