Colossae Archaeological Excavations

The first systematic investigations at the ancient city of Colossae began in 2021 with an archaeological survey project. In earlier periods, travelers and scholars carried out observations and studies at the site; however, no regular and systematic excavation or research program was undertaken.

W. F. Hamilton visited the city in 1836 and mentioned the existence of a theatre, rock-cut tombs, and mills. Hamilton also notes that the historian Niketas Choniates was born there. G. Weber examined the city’s necropolis and published several tombs, including some inscribed examples. W. Ramsay investigated the topography, geography, and visible remains of the city and its immediate surroundings. W. Buckler and W. Calder published grave stelae and architectural fragments, including material from Colossae. In the second half of the twentieth century, J. Mellaart, S. Lloyd, and A. Murray conducted research in the city and the wider region, focusing primarily on the prehistoric period. In 1997, the Denizli Museum carried out excavations in three separate tumuli in the necropolis. Another key publication on the city was produced by C. Şimşek in 2002, examining evidence concerning the general history of the settlement, the necropolis, tumuli, and other components.
In 2006, B. Duman and E. Konakçı conducted a seven-month survey at the site and published two articles. In addition, an edited volume entitled Colossae in Space and Time: Linking to an Ancient City was published in 2011 under the editorship of H. Cadwallader and M. Trainor; the book contains eleven papers addressing Colossae, the archaeology and cities of the Lykos Valley, epigraphic material, and related topics. The recent results of the Colossae Archaeological Survey conducted by our team between 2021 and 2023 have been published by us. Finally, in 2025, the first systematic excavations at the ancient city of Colossae were initiated under the direction of Dr. Barış Yener.

Reprint of the Arundell Engraving (L. Haghe), Khonai–Chonas–Honaz, 1836

• 1745 – Richard Pococke initiated the first investigations of the ancient site of Colossae and its inscriptions.

• 1763–1764 – Coins from the Colossae mint first attracted attention within collecting circles.

• 1813–1814 – Captain Kinneir traveled through the region; he refined maps and carried out locational measurements.

• 1826 – Francis Arundell published the first copy of an inscription from Colossae and recorded church remains and inscriptions in the vicinity.

• 1826 – John Hartley reported observations on the demographic structure of the Honaz/Chonai area, as well as on a mosque, churches, and the sacred Monastery of Taxiarch Michael.

• 1836 – William Hamilton mentioned wall remains and fragments of seating that may have belonged to the theatre of Colossae.

• 1851 – Henry Christmas recorded two church ruins and the “Archangel Michael” cave that was shown to him.

• 1869 – Ernest Renan assessed the cemeteries of Colossae in a disparaging manner; this approach contributed to the city being regarded as insignificant for a long time.

• 1897 – J. G. C. Anderson identified new inscriptions at Colossae.

• 1933 – Buckler and Calder visited Colossae and Honaz for epigraphic research purposes.

• 1976 – Otto Meinardus and Klaus Siefernz provided Byzantine-period evidence by documenting column capitals with cross motifs.

• 2001 – Prof. Dr. Celal Şimşek initiated a new phase of investigation at the site through necropolis research.

• 2004–2006 – Erim Konakçı and Bahadır Duman produced important assessments based on surface ceramics.

• 2021 – With permission from the Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Pamukkale University launched the archaeological survey project “Colossae Ancient City and Its Territory” under the direction of Asst. Prof. Dr. Barış Yener.

• 2025 – Under the same directorship, systematic excavations began at Colossae, marking a new phase of research.