Excavations at Alahan Monastery, Third Preliminary Report

Author(s): Michael Gough

Source: Anatolian Studies, Vol. 14 (1964), pp. 185-190
Published by: British Institute at Ankara
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 EXCAVATIONS AT ALAHAN MONASTERY

THIRD PRELIMINARY REPORT *

By MICHAEL GOUGH

LAST YEAR, DURING the months of July and August, the Institute
season of excavation at Alahan Monastery in Isauria and, althou
fairly short-six weeks in all-more workmen were taken on to e
effort. Many of these, with six or seven years experience of early
tions at Dag Pazarl and Alahan, quickly instructed the newcome
staff, Mr. Guthrie and Mr. Martineau helped Mrs. Gough with t
as well as on the site. Miss Hall, Mr. Harper and Mr. Hayes ac
visors, while Mrs. Gerard Bakker was again responsible for pottery
The expedition's architect and draughtsman was Mr. Adrian Ca
tectural Institute. Finally, by a happy coincidence, the representat
Government was Bay Stileyman G6nqer, who found himself af
from the Directorship of the Afyon Museum with a British exped
so many years of collaboration between the wars with Dr. Winifre
and with Sir William Calder during his Phrygian explorations.
After the seasons of 1961 and I962, three important building
already known. Of these the church at the eastern end of the com
familiar as Koja Kalessi; and since it had never fallen into ful
given to it first by Headlam and later solidly entrenched in the pa
and of others who wrangled for so long about the church's plac
early Christian architecture-this name was used until recently to s
monastery.' In this paper it will be used as an alternative n
Church. Apart from this famous building, the Western Basilica (th
Evangelists) and the Baptistery had been brought to light by ex
it seemed time to reassess, if need be, the architecture of these buil
in their primary phases, and also to investigate other buildings
directly connected with the liturgy.
Until I963, so much time had been spent in the excavation
Basilica and the Baptistery that the Eastern Church, Koja Kalessi, h
its share of attention. Verzone had published his monograph, A
1956, to be followed the next year by Forsyth's article in Dumbart
Vol. XI. It seemed that Koja Kalessi could wait. However, th
church was still encumbered by fallen building blocks and virtu
known of the narthex. (The shallow sounding of 1955 revealed littl
walling of the extreme incompetence that is always associated
occupation of the monastery.) The clearance of the nave and ap
given priority together with the excavation of the narthex. Stone
a problem, so blocks from the nave and apse were temporarily stac
while others from the narthex were stored in a newly excavated ar

* As there will be no excavation at Alahan during 1964, the Fourth Prel

not appear until 1966. This will be followed, it is hoped, by a volume conta
Alahan Monastery and of the Churches of Dag Pazan.
I So, in Van der Meer and Mohrmann, Atlas of the Early Christian World, N
where it appears as Koca Kalesi.
2 See M. Gough, " The Church of the Evangelists at Alahan," AS. XII (1
and " Excavations at Alahan Monastery ", AS. XIII (1963), pp. 105-115.
N

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 186 ANATOLIAN STUDIES

the church. Fallen blocks below the c

ensure that evidence for a stone dome
should not be overlooked. In fact ther
squinches were recorded, one with a cros
which thus matched the keystone of the
also revealed previously hidden archite
helped us to establish others.
In the apse, the paved floor had bee
which the flags had rested was worn sm
patch on the chord, on which the origin
evidence also of a westward extension of
the clergy-passing in front of the doors
Western Basilica (see below, p. 188). Th
ripped up in places by treasure seekers
the centre of the area below the tower,
capitals, and around the decorated pod
ambones, altars, altar bases and offertor
revealed broken architectural decoration,
used as angle volutes in the capitals of
and the north-west column of the to
(i.e. the westernmost of the north aisl
were both pulled down long ago, but s
should have had corner eagles. The fr
to them.
Set between the columns, and extending to the western limit of the tower from
the chancel steps, is a simple, low bench. In fact it defines the liturgical area, but
if there was any other barrier between clergy and laity it must have been of wood,
since there is no slotting on the bench to receive stone slabs. At right-angles to this
bench, across the east end of the nave with a single central entrance into the chancel,
is a similar moulding, slotted on the north side to take upright slabs, of which some
fragments were found in the clearance of the nave and apse. To the south, the
stones were unslotted, apparently a rough and ready repair after the slabs on that
side had already been shattered. A continuous bench between the columns and a
base slotted to receive decorated slabs is also a feature-though with far greater
elaboration-of the Western Basilica (see below, p. 188 and P1. La).
After the clearance of the nave, two decorated podia which had apparently
fallen close to their original positions were re-erected. Two of these, one to the
north, the other to the south, faced each other in the intercolumniations just west
of the tower.4 As the paving in their immediate vicinity had been removed, it is
likely that they were deliberately pushed over to see what lay underneath. Another
pair, at the east end of the nave, lay one on either side of the entrance into the
chancel. The southern one is so badly damaged that it will need considerable
restoration if it is to be re-erected. The other has been set up in its original position,
since the screen base of the cancellus was carefully cut to receive it (P1. XLIXb).
Its southern face is carved with a cross twined with vine leaves which grow from
an amphora-a motive which also occurs on the so-called shrine in the great east-

3 Its measurements are : w. I '54 m. ; th. I -o6 m. In the Western Basilica, the comparable
figures for the altar base itself are : w. I -64 m. ; th. o-83 m.
4 Illustrated by Verzone, Alahan Monastzr, Turin, 1956, Tav. VI and VII. Also, M. Gough,
The Early Christians, London, I961, P1. 44-

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 EXCAVATIONS AT ALAHAN MONASTERY I87
west colonnade.- On the western face, the head of the niche containing another
leaf-decorated cross is flanked by two birds, while across the top is an inscription
between two crosses which, with restoration, possibly reads "tExiX & kcb6'[vvovu TrpEa]t
" the first vow of John the priest ".
The relatively small gain in height achieved by the removal of building blocks
from the floor of the nave and apse resulted in an altogether disproportionate gain
in the aesthetic value of the building (P1. XLIXa). The loftiness of the central
tower could again be appreciated as the architect had intended it, while the
uninterrupted vista through nave and apse, with some of the original church
furniture in position gave a probably fair impression of the church as its first
congregations would have seen it. As has been noted on other occasions, the
decoration of Koja Kalessi is almost austere compared with the lavish ornamental
relief work in the Western Basilica, and fragments found in 1963 only confirmed
this impression.
The excavation of the narthex produced tantalizing, rather than definitive
evidence. In the centre, a column base in situ and the rock-cut seating for another,
together with several voussoirs of a type similar to those used in the east-west
colonnade, show that there was an arched entrance at this point. South of this were
found the bases of pilasters which acted as responds to the colonnade and to the
continuous wall system to the north of it. The southern end of the narthex was thus
highly irregular; north of the central entrance, however, two widely separated
foundation blocks suggested supports for the uprights of another opening in
the western wall. Generally speaking, however, the primary wall had been
almost completely robbed, and then clumsily rebuilt from the original material
(P1. XLVIIIb). Three of the stones which blocked the original central entrance were
found to be double arch springs with mouldings similar to, but smaller and more
delicate than those used elsewhere in the narthex or the long colonnade. These, with
three identical blocks found close by and some voussoirs with the same moulding,
strongly suggest that the upper wall of the narthex was pierced with arched window
lights arranged in groups and with dividers oval in section. A symmetrical arrange-
ment of these windows would have contributed towards restoring a much needed
balance to the narthex as a whole.
Though the Western Basilica and the Baptistery had been cleared in 1962, the
primary phase was still obscured at many vital points by later walling. As the ruin
of both buildings was caused by rock falls from the north, and there was con-
sequently no stone robbing, the masons who reconstructed them, probably as late
as the 12th century, had a wealth of cut material ready to hand. Nor did they
show any compunction in hacking up sculptural decoration should the need arise.
Some was used to shore up surviving primary walls, while the rest found its way
into new features which often transformed, but in no case improved on the original
structures. If anything definitive was to be known of the primary phase of the two
buildings, secondary walls had to be demolished.
In earlier reports, the two easily recognizable periods of building at Alahan
have been simply characterized by the terms "primary" and "secondary ". This
very loose distinction is no longer valid and needs modification. To the term
"primary ", applying only to the original architecture of the monastic buildings,
should now be added serial numbers, I, 2, 3, etc., to apply to later phases of con-
struction before the buildings collapsed or fell into disrepair, probably during the

6 See Verzone, op. cit., Fig. 33. The decoration may be seen on two panels flanking the niche.

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 i88 ANATOLIAN STUDIES

late 6th or 7th century. The term " secondary ", a

rebuilding, also needs the same modification.
I962 had shown that the building called Church N
unorthodox basilica, with the height and details of its
from incontrovertible evidence.6 Measurement of the arch voussoirs enabled us to
restore something more of the elevation on paper, and it is hoped to publish these
results fully at a later date. Three Secondary I piers at the east end of the nave
were demolished and provided some valuable new information. In them were
found slotted uprights into which the cancellus screen had been set, and also sizable
fragments of the screen itself, some of which fitted fragments already found else-
where, notably a fine example decorated with crossed fish. A most important
feature, recognized for the first time in 1963, is that the course of decorated blocks
that formed the lowest course of the Secondary I walls on the line of the original
stylobates was a survival of the Primary i phase. In fact, these blocks had been
used in the first basilica to define the liturgical area west of the apse-exactly as
at Koja Kalessi, but with a great wealth of ornament. At the north-east end of
the nave one of these blocks takes a right-angled turn to the south (P1. La), while
another, lying free at the west end of the nave, is slotted to take an upright slab.
Moreover, when the south-east Secondary I pier was demolished, the southern angle
block was found embedded in it. An examination of the stone course just west of
the chancel steps and parallel to them showed that the centre was much worn by
the tread of feet, though the surface on either side was unworn. A thin guiding
line along this smooth surface indicated the original position of the cancellus screen
base. In the north aisle, Secondary I masonry used to narrow the entrance into
the room of prothesis was demolished to reveal the clean lines of the original jamb,
while the removal of blocking from the east door of the room brought to light a flight
of steps which stopped at the exact level of the apse floor where a few fragments of
opus sectile remained in situ.7 This clearance thus proved that the western extension
of the synthronon was a Primary I feature, while the whole of the upper tier of seating
for the clergy is likely to be of the same date-with the exception of those seats that
actually blocked out the door into the room of prothesis. These blocks must have
been fitted last, as they exactly fit into the doorway, and might therefore be con-
sidered as Primary 2. The walling-up of the steps leading from the room of prothesis
was probably carried out in the Secondary I phase, since a great number of glass
tesserae, probably from the original apse mosaic, found their way into the mortar.
In the Baptistery, part of the Secondary I masonry shoring up the original
north wall was dismantled. It was most gratifying in this case to find well preserved
evidence of the bases, shafts and capitals of a small Corinthian order 8 which we
had already conjectured must have preceded the two clumsy bases and stumps
found in I962 to the west of the northern apse. As there are parts of no less than
four of the smaller column bases, the theory of a single freestanding arch in front
of the apse must be abandoned. It is possible that there was a baldechino over the
font, but more of the primary material embedded in other Secondary I walls must
first be examined to arrive at any certainty. The piped feed for water into the font
was brought to light by the removal of secondary blocking. A careful examination
of the so-called narthex to the south of the Baptistery proper, showed that the east

6 The exact measurements of bases, shafts, capitals and intercolumniations are all known.
7 See M. Gough, " Excavations at Alahan Monastery," AS. XIII (1963), p. og9, nn. 4 and 5-
8 ibid., pp. I i3-I4. The plinth measurements of these small columns vary slightly between
0-63 x 0-63 m., and 0-605 x 0-59 m.

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 PLATE XL VIII

(a) The Eastern Church, western facade.

(b) The Eastern Church, narthex wall with secondary blocking.

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(a) The Eastern Church, interior, looking westwards. (b) The Ea

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 PLATE L

(a) The Western Basilica : detail of cancellus screen base turning south

(b) Guest rooms, facing southwards.

(c) Retaining wall for levelling fill in foreground, rock-cut kitchen

background.

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 PLATE LI

(a) Tomb of Tarasis, dated I3th February, 462.

(b) The Bakery.

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 EXCAVATIONS AT ALAHAN MONASTERY 189

and west walls and most of the south wall with its central door belonge
Primary 2 phase, and there is good reason to suppose that there was ori
simple arcade on the line of the present south wall. The eastern part of the
narthex seems to have been used for a burial, since on three separate, but ad
blocks is a rustic inscription reading t'Evea K(a>)-rax<l Akov " Here lies L
Apart from work done on known buildings, two large areas were ex
one to the west of the Baptistery, the other to the west of Koja Kalessi,
church. Both were rewarding.
The area west of the Baptistery and the buildings associated with i
conditioned by the presence of the native rock at a high level, and the n
of draining away the flood waters of winter and spring. In fact, the roc
southwards and so greatly helps in rain disposal. It is for this reason that th
wall of the Baptistery is built of masonry at the south to its full height, bu
northern end is completely rock-cut. To the north-west of the building is a
which drains away through wide and heavily constructed channels to th
southern slope beyond the confines of the monastery. West of this drainage
is a series of narrow rectangular rooms with party walls, all facing sou
(P1. Lb). Their northern walls were protected by a thick rendering of plaste
water seepage, should the rock-cut drainage system to the north overfl
masonry, as might be expected, is fairly rough, but it appears from finds of
and coinage to belong to the Primary I and 2 periods. On one Primary
a large quantity of coarse mediaeval pottery had been dumped. It is kno
the rooms extend westwards towards the Western Basilica, and it is conceiva
they originally formed the drra-rrilplta referred to in the epitaph of T
Elder (P1. LIa).9 Many of the walls were patched up in Secondary I, and
patch the lower part of a minute column shaft was discovered. It was lat
to fit exactly one of the sockets in the base of the three-legged altar in the Ba
To the west of Koja Kalessi, a large area bounded to the north by t
face and to the south by the northern retaining wall of the colonnade was e
This area included the rock-cut backing of a two-storey building which, it h
thought, might represent the monastic kitchen and refectory. At the extre
end of our cutting, we were rewarded by the discovery of an oven (P1. L
one arch still intact and the stumps of another behind it. The flue was s
with soot, and it is likely that the bakery was sited here. East of this w
large room, its northern face entirely rock cut and its western and east
partly so. The floor, also of rock, had been hewn into low benches and platf
with a hollowed basin and runaway at the north-east corner. Three kni
were found in the area, which suggests that this may have been a preparatio
store room with the upper storey used as a refectory. In the Secondary
when the lower storey had partially filled up, four large masonry block
them a double arch spring from the narthex window system-were set up at
on an east-west alignment to act as post supports for a new second store
south of this structure and of the bakery too, the site was found to ha
artificially levelled. This had been done by sinking regular shafts into
and raising the sides with masonry to the requisite height of the platform
(P1. Lc). On the southern side, a sustaining wall was built parallel to the

9 I am republishing a photograph of this inscription as a confirmation of my earlie

published in " Some Recent Finds at Alahan (Koja Kalessi) ", AS. V, 1955, Fig.
supplement the photograph in Verzone, op. cit., Fig. I24. There has been a slight det
of the stone in the last decade.

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 Igo ANATOLIAN STUDIES

wall of the colonnade to prevent the full thrust

being taken by it. Clearly if the great architectura
church and the long colonnade was to have any
necessity.
Of seventeen coins found in 1963, not one was certainly to be dated later than
Justin II, which tends to confirm the evidence of I96i and 1962, viz. that the
monastery does not seem to have existed in its primary phase long after the start
of the 7th century. For the secondary period there is no numismatic evidence at
all. From the supposed hospice area to the west of the Baptistery come one issue
of Constantius II, a follis of Justinian I (B.M. Cat., p. 56, no. 291) and two of
Justin II (one of them B.M. Cat., p. 93, no. 209). A fifth coin probably dates to
Constantine II. In the area west of Koja Kalessi, the only certain attributions are
to Honorius and Justin I (B.M. Cat., p. 14, nos. 25, 26). From the colonnade comes
another issue ofJustin I (B.M. Cat., p. 18, no. 6o).1o In the rubble at the east end
of Koja Kalessi a coin of Florian (Mattingly and Sydenham, p. 360, no. I 16) was
found, but this does not fit convincingly into the general picture. Of seven other
small coins found at Alahan in 1963, two could be assigned with some certainty to
the fifth century, but the rest were badly corroded and could not be accurately
dated.
An easily recognized decorated ware, of which large quantities of sherds were
found in 1963, has been provisionally assigned to the primary phase of the monastery.
It also occurs at Dag Pazari, a site apparently abandoned in the 7th century.
This is a light, cream-coloured ware decorated in a matt red paint with geometric
motives, often curvilinear. One sherd, found in the Baptistery in 1962, was decorated
with a stylized fish. A well-fired pattern-burnished red ware used for shallow
straight-sided bowls and plates seems to be a local contemporary of some late
Roman fine ware of the fifth or sixth century which also occurs at Alahan. An
interesting sherd, so far unparalleled, but unfortunately unstratified, is of a poorly
fired buff ware with seal impressions of a standing angel, probably of the fifth
century.

10 During I963, a sounding was made in the colonnade in the area of the second pilaster
complex to the west of the narthex of the Eastern Church. The northern respond of the complex
and the level of the original floor were both established, and the coin was discovered in the course
of the sounding.

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