Abstract:

Tarsus, one of the ancient cities of the Eastern Mediterranean, is a district located on the eastern border of Mersin Province in southern Turkey, with a population of approximately 400,000 today. Inhabited in the same location from antiquity to the present day, the city is multi-layered, and monuments belonging to each layer can be seen in the city center. This makes the city a living open-air museum where mound formation/layering continues. The fact that the city continues to be inhabited in the same location prevents access to data about ancient Tarsus and hinders comprehensive scientific research and excavations in the city center. However, the ancient remains of the rural areas outside the city center, connected to Tarsus, were not part of a comprehensive scientific study or examined from a cultural heritage perspective until 2016. In 2016, with permission granted by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Department of Excavations and Research, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, an archaeological surface survey project was initiated in the Tarsus hinterland by the authors of this book. This project led to the creation of a new book series. The series titled "Tarsus Studies" houses studies centered on Tarsus. This book is the fourth volume in the Tarsus Studies series. The fourth volume contains the scientific results obtained within the scope of the Tarsus Hinterland Surface Surveys. The study includes the Via Tauri and the ancient settlements located to its west, within the boundaries of the Sağlık neighborhood in the hinterland of Tarsus. This road and these settlements form the content of a comprehensive study for the first time. The settlements are important because of their proximity to the Via Tauri and their rural character. We do not know the ancient names of these settlements; therefore, they are referred to by their current names: Sakızçukuru, Kümbet, Çeşmekaşı, Gavurperdeği/Ökeni. This book is the product of nine years of Tarsus Hinterland Surface Surveys. We would like to thank all the students who contributed to the documentation of the settlements, in addition to the authors of this book. The experts from the Tarsus Museum provided significant assistance in identifying the settlements. In particular, Doğukan Bekir Alper, the Director of the Tarsus Museum, never left us alone at any stage of the research. We express our gratitude to him. The financial supporter of our research is the Tarsus Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We especially thank the Tarsus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in the person of Mr. Fuat Togo. This book was published with the support of the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality. We thank the Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, Mr. Vahap Seçer.