Limanağzı – Boğazcık
Passing from the neck of the peninsula starting from the point where Limanağzı is located and after a mild climb, Lycian road goes on from the seaside and continues parallel to the shore with sharp white stones and reaches to Çoban bay. By descending from the hill just above the bay again Fakdere region could be reached. At the end of the cape located south of Fakdere, there are the remains of the ropes used in unearthing the world’s oldest sunken ship which is exhibited in Bodrum museum.
At the eastern end of the bay in which Fakdere is located there is an old cistern and ruins. From the guardhouse in Fakdere drinking water could be obtained if necessary. One could reach after climbing the hill on the east and first from a dirt road and then from a pathway which consisted of round, carstic lime stones and red soil to a region called Üzümlü pier among the rubble stones just next to the sea with olive trees. The road goes parallel to the shore and goes on through a bay adorned with white very sharp marbles and under carob trees.
You could reach KaleTepe archaeological settlement after climbing towards the ruins which can be seen from the middle sections of the bay. From here on Lycian road signs were erased. At the northeast direction there is a mild climb and after two hills road goes on for about one kilometer. After that you could arrive to Boğazcık village from a dirt road and following the signs. By leaving the Lycia road Isında archaeological settlement located on the map section can be seen.
ASAR TEPE AND GEDIK TEPE SETTLEMENTS
Asar Street is located at the north of the Bayındır village which is located 3km east of Kaş District and they are linked with each other on a hill overlooking Limanağzı. Parapet walls located at the peak of Asartepe was built carelessly with indigenous rocks. The building stones of the hill which almost all of them are destroyed can be seen starting from the slopes. All the stones consisted of carelessly chosen rubble stones except for door lintels.
While climbing Gediktepe, in the flat area, one first sees the places which belong to the workshops made by carving into main stone. There are places with square plans belonging to the farmhouses with dry walls built from rubble stones in connection with the workshops starting from the slopes of the hills. The remains of a structure located at the summit of the hill are thought to be a watchtower, due to its location, for detecting the dangers to come from the sea.
ISINDA (BELENLİ)
The settlement over Asar Tepe overlooking the Çukurbağ Peninsula and Meis Island which is located at the edge of Belenli Village is defined as Isinda based on the inscriptions found inside and around the town. They were represented by a league they were created with Apollonia, Aperlai and Simena in the Lycia League.
At the summit of the hill the parapet walls which were built limestone blocks naturally shaped in the area had been repaired lots of times. Parapet has well preserved walls at north and northeast. Two rock tombs in home type and carved in stone, reflecting the wooden house architecture of Lycia are located at a point close to summit. As a proof of the water needs were met from the cistern same as other Lycian cities among the ruins, there are lots of cisterns carved in stone.
Since the settlement is too rocky and the water sources and agricultural lands being limited the city is thought to have not lasted not even until Byzantine period. It is certain from 3 tomb monument written in Lycian and which are still visible that Isinda is inhabited before 4th century B.C. On the slopes of the settlement towards the village there are a lot of sarcophaguses with inscriptions on it.
ULUBURUN SHIPWRECK
A shipwreck discovered at 60m from the east shores of Uluburun which is located at 8km northeast of Kaş district of Antalya city, belonging to Late Bronze Age. The cargo of a ship lost at the end of 14th century B.C. has been unearthed as a result of 25 thousand dives made throughout eleven seasons which was started in 1984, after this sunken ship was discovered by a sponge diver in 1982.
As a result of the excavations made, it has been determined that the ship was made from cedar tree and 15m in size, its stern was found in 44 meters and its bow was found in 52 meters deep and the cargo it has been carrying was found in 61 meters deep and unearthed. The shipwreck was dated back to 1305 B.C. as a result of the inspection of a cedar part found in the shipwreck. Uluburun shipwreck is the oldest known shipwreck in the world. It is determined that it was an Egyptian boat and sunk while on rout from Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, Anatolia and Rhodes. Uluburun shipwreck was determined to be a ship belonging to state and among the finds from its cargo, there are 10 tons of raw copper, 1 ton of tin ingots, glass ingots, ivory works, Syrian – Palestine made pots, resins, olive and glass beads inside amphoras, flasks, Syrian made oil lamps, various jewels. The variety of the finds shows the proof of an international trade of that time.
Among the precious finds at the shipwreck there are cedar tree, a black colored tree which grows in tropical parts of Africa and called ebony by the Ancient Egyptians, more than a dozen of hippopotamus teeth, a possible ingredient for incenses from a sea snail, tortoise shells which are thought to be used as music boxes, ostrich eggs and metal or porcelain made parts to be used in pottery and vase making.
Some parts of the finds are consisted of seals. Cylindrical seals used as identities in near east, seals which had been sent as gifts from one king to another originated from Babylonia, Syria-Palestine as well as the world’s only golden seals proving that Nefertiti became a pharaoh are among the finds.
A bronze scale made in Syria – Palestine area and weights in shapes of animals can be defined as the most beautiful weights belonging to Bronze Age. Unearthed knucklebones may mean that they are used for knucklebone carving as well as auguring.
Aside from bronze arrow and spear heads there are Mycenaean and possibly Italian made swords also found in the shipwreck. Among the load and edibles in the ship there are almonds, figs, olives, grapes, cumin, sumac, coriander, pomegranates and a couple of wheat and barley grains. Fishnet weights and bobins used in fishnet repairs, fishhooks, a forked end fish harpoon proves that fishing had been made on the ship.
The finds unearthed from Kaş Uluburun Shipwreck and 1/1 scale section of the ship, with the cargo has been placed inside as original and based on its location on the sea floor are exhibited at Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum, Late Bronze Age Shipwrecks Gallery.
