Necropolis Areas and Grave Types Unearthed in the Surface Surveys Conducted in and Around the Ancient City of Neoklaudiopolis

Abstract

The ancient city of Neoklaudiopolis is located within the borders of Vezirköprü district, 110 km southwest of Samsun (Black Sea/Turkey) province. The district is surrounded by Alacam and Durağan of Sinop to the north, Bafra to the northeast, Havza to the east, Osmancık of Çorum to the southwest and Saraydüzü of Sinop to the west. The city, positioned along a significant route because of its strategic location, has experienced an uninterrupted history of habitation stretching from Antiquity to the present day. One of these settlements is the ancient city of Neoklaudiopolis. Although no structure belonging to the city, localized to Vezirköprü, has been found so far, it is seen that many artifacts belonging to the ancient city are scattered throughout the district. In this context, a surface survey was planned to investigate the history of the district, to identify the archaeological cultural assets in the district and to reveal the localization of the ancient city of Neoklaudiopolis and its relations with its surroundings. During the surveys carried out so far, 72 villages were visited, and many necropolis areas and graves were identified and recorded. The documentation of these graves, many of which have been and are being destroyed by unauthorized diggings, is very important for understanding the grave typology of the ancient city of Neoklaudiopolis and its relations with its immediate surroundings. The graves identified in this study were divided into sub-groups such as tumulus, rock grave, stone cist grave and their typology and distribution within the city were tried to be determined. © 2024, Nous Publishers Ltd.. All rights reserved.