West necropolis of teos: Tombs typology and foundings

The ancient city of Teos, located in Seferihisar district of Izmir, for many years has been obtained as an important center of balanced power in the first millennium BC. Nowadays there are many civil and public structures still standing in that area, however, the data on the necropolis of the city are extremely limited, but due to the rescue excavations performed in the recent years, the data on the necropolis are increasing. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to identify the West Necropolis of Teos and its foundings, which were carried out on the 1258 block in section A of the plot number 1 after salvage excavations conducted by Izmir Museum has been performed. In the evaluation of the study on 142 graves, which were uncovered from the necropolis area, two different burial types as inhumation and cremation have been identified. In accordance with the typology of the graves, it was determined that terracotta sarcophagus (Clazomenian), pithoi tombs, cist tombs, pot graves and tile tombs were preferred in the inhumation burials. Likewise, in the cremation burials, primary and secondary cremations are detected. Altogether, in the study were identified 210 grave offerings that are linked to the graves or unearthed from the stratums. All the grave offerings, chronologically classified into groups such as terracotta (ceramics and figurines), metal, glass, bone, were found to contribute to the dating of the tombs. Moreover, the assessments of the study in the necropolis determine two phases dating Archaic and Late Classical-Hellenistic Period. The early period graves, dated to the Archaic Period, consist of the Clazomenian terracotta sarcophagi, the pithoi tombs and the cremation burials, have been enclosed by a wall, known as peribolos. The graves dated to the second half/the end of the 6th century BC and the early 5th century BC, have been filled up with the soil forming the burial mound known as tumuli, this burying tradition allows making parallels with Western Anatolian examples. The second phase (Late Classical-Hellenistic Period) tombs were built up by destroying the Archaic Period tumuli mounds, which are dated to the 4th-2nd century BC, however at the end of the 4th and at the beginning of the 3rd century BC those tombs were used the most. Furthermore, the grave offerings like lekythoi, unguentaria, alabastra and bowls generally were found in cist tombs, pot graves, tile tombs and primary cremation places. Briefly, this study is an important source, which compares Necropolis of Teos with other necropoleis in Western Anatolia, reflects socio-economic structure and aspirations according to the burial customs of Teos. Keywords: Burial Customs, Grave Offerings, Ionia, Teos, Tomb.