Abstract

In this lecture, I will present a brief overview of the results achieved in the excavations of Doliche in 2018. Doliche, located at the outskirts of the Turkish city of Gaziantep in South-East-Anatolia, was one of the urban centers of ancient North Syria. Fieldwork at the site started only in 2015. The project, which is run by Münster University in cooperation with the Centre of Urban Network Evolutions, aims to explore urban life in ancient Syria in a diachronic perspective. The first campaigns have focused on the Roman Imperial and the late antique phases of the city. Among the most exciting discoveries were a large public bath of the second and third century CE and a Christian basilica of the fourth century CE. The close examination of the results have considerably improved the understanding of the development of the city, the urban fabric and cultural affiliations. Yet, there is also a large array of open questions and problems, which I would like to highlight and to discuss.

The lecture will be followed by a wine reception.