The end of July marked the start of a new season of excavations in Doliche. Over the next two months, an international team of specialists and students will continue to explore the ancient city of Doliche. Excavations will be carried out in two areas. One is the city center of the Roman Imperial period in the eastern part of Doliche. Here, the focus is on the monumental temple. The temple is one of the most important new discoveries of the project. It is remarkable not only for its size, but also for its architecture. The cella is divided into three naves by colonnades and has an apse covered by a semi-dome at the western end. The temple was built in the second century AD and may have been dedicated to the cult of the Roman emperors. This year we plan to excavate the northern half of the apse and the southeastern corner of the temple. In the eastern part of the city center, the study of the city archive will be resumed. The aim is to better understand the outline of the building and to recover more seal impressions. Over 6000 seal impressions have been found in recent years.

In the second half of the campaign, the focus will shift to the early Christian basilica on the southern slope of the city. The eastern half of this church has been excavated between 2015 and 2021, but some questions about its architecture and design remain unanswered. In addition to the excavation, conservation work will be carried out to protect the mosaics that cover the floor of the church. About 35 people, geophysicists, architects, archaeologists, and local workers, are working in the excavation areas. In parallel with the excavations, a large team of specialists in pottery, glass, metal, animal bones, and architecture will process and analyze the finds made in the field. Stay tuned for updates.