Within the framework of the topographical research, in cooperation with the Institute for the Cultural History of Antiquity of the Austrian Academy of Sciences , all historical buildings of the town will be newly planned, on the foundation of the ordnance survey map of Selçuk, in a chronological map of buildings, and thereby a chronological organization of the individual monuments will be attempted; at the moment, without the full evaluation of written and archaeological sources, this project has only a preliminary character. In the course of this research, an entire series of in part poorly-preserved monuments in the old city of Selçuk and in the environs which are today undeveloped have been documented for the first time. Thereby extremely interesting foundations for the historical topography of Ayasoluk have been obtained, which are just as important for the examination of individual monuments as for the general civic architectural picture. According to a protocol of September 2000 with the General Directorship of the Foundation, owner of the buildings, the groundwork for further archaeological research on these monuments has been prepared.
In addition to topography and architectural history, evidence of the material culture (ceramic, tools, coins, etc.) of the Islamic period, as far as it has been excavated in the last decades, and other sources, amongst them tomb stones, occupy a position of particular importance. During last summer, ca. 400 objects from the Museum, from the courtyard of the Isa Bey Cami, and from other sites in the nearby environs were catalogued and photographed.

Isa Bey Hamamı (Hamam II)

The so-called Isa Bey Hamamı (fig. 2. 3) is one of the most well-preserved baths from this period. Neither its name nor its exact date has been proven so far. An inscription kept in the Selçuk Museum and dated to 766//1364 refers to a Hamam which was erected during the rule of Isa Bey. Since this inscription, however, was found in the garden of a house, its connection with these baths is in no way provable.

The entrance to the baths is in the north. The square vestibule (fig. 4) with costly marble facing of spolia, a fountain in the centre and four columns - two of which have been re-erected - serving as support system, can be interpreted as a changing-room and resting-room (soyunmalık) its external appearance and interior fittings are not preserved. The adjacent central building has the classical cross-form plan with four special bathrooms (halvet) and four eyvan. Hardly anything remains of its originally magnificent appearance beyond the stuccoed wall decoration, partially with coloured paint and adjoined domes. Of a total of ten domes with partially very valuable stalactite decoration only five are preserved, while the main dome over the tepidarium (ılıklık) is two-thirds collapsed. Based on the numerous fragments of glass sherds, which originate from the light openings in the domes, it can be concluded that these were coloured. Amongst the colours are found differing tones of yellow, green, blue, and red, and between these was also clear glass.
The water treatment took place further to the south, where the praefurnium and the vaulted warm water basin are still preserved. To the east of the baths, a row of rooms has been exposed, which are oriented to a narrow alley and which are probably to be interpeted as shops.
The excavation of the foundation of a supporting wall to the east, in R 34, took on particular significance via the happy discovery of a coin hoard containing 936 silver coins. This coin hoard (fig. 5) contains exclusively coins minted by Isa Bey, with the exception of six coins which bear the stamp of Ahmed Gazi, ruler of the dynasty of the Menteşeoğulları. The coins were contained in a closed ceramic jar, whose interior was originally only accessible through a slit made before firing.
The baths were later altered in the west by an additional building for women, a structure whose entrance was reached by a side passageway according to Islamic tradition. This resulted in partial alterations to the construction technique and the structure of the building.
At the western side of the building, in the course of the previous research and also during the current research, a row of human burials was uncovered; these were set down into the mural crowns and water pipes, and therefore were clearly placed there after the bath had stopped operating and after the destruction of the building. Chronological evidence for these burials is provided by a coin of Murad II (1421-1451).
The pottery finds (fig. 6) reveal a broad spectrum, whereby the latest datable piece, with the exception of a very few pieces, can also be placed in the 15th century. In addition to abundant local products of unglazed and glazed ceramic, in part of very high quality, we have also come across numerous imported wares originating from China to Spain, as well as local imitations.
Furthermore, the fragments of bracelets of glass also underscore the relationship to the eastern Mediterranean region, while drinking cups and other fragments of jars might point to contacts with Europe, in particular with Italy.

Hamam III (fig. 7)

An additional bathing complex was also taken up as a second monument of our study; this lies to the west of the Isa Bay Mosque in the area used for agriculture. These ruins, which until just a few years ago were still used as stables, were in the first instance cleared from the damaging effects of tree growth, cleaned, and protected against further vandalism by the erection of a fence. This bath complex is clearly differentiated from the Isa Bey Hamam both in its ground plan and in its furnishings. Unfortunately its state of preservation is very regrettable. Beyond the lower supports, nothing is preserved of the domes and other roofing.
Entrance was gained from the east. Through archaeological examination, it can be identified that the relaxing- and changing-room (soyunmalık), of which the marble floor and a few remains of walls were found, was located in the east.
Today one enters directly at the corridor room. The supports for the dome of the tepidarium (ılıklık) are preserved; these were decorated with mukarnas. Two small rooms to the west of this room must have functioned as rooms for the care of the body or as toilets. The central room, which extends across the entire width of the complex, was the hot bathing room (sıcaklık) and was decorated with extremely beautiful mukarnas in small niches. Remains of arch supports allow the conclusion that the central section of this room supported a high dome, while half-domes covered the side areas. Joined on to the south were two additional rooms, which also were roofed with domes. These can be identified as special bathing rooms (halvet). The warm water depot was vaulted with a barrel-vault and occupied the entire width of the south side of the building. The praefurnium was located in the central axis of the building. Two pointed wall buttresses on each side of the praefurnium can be probably understood as supportive constructions against the water pressure. At a later date, an additional water depot was situated on the west side, and its walls were also reinforced using the same technique. Between both of these depots in the south-west area a well was excavated in which, in addition to pottery and coins, human and animal bones were also discovered. In addition to individual bones of various animals, the almost complete skeletons of two humans, a horse and a dog were found, which apparently were deposited into the well. Later on in time, two rooms were built on to the north side of the baths, which probably functioned as baths for women.
During the 2006 season, in the east of the building underneath the relaxing- and changing-room, a kiln with manufacturing materials was discovered, which undoubtedly existed before the construction of the baths, and which was destroyed during the course of the baths' construction. The preserved part however was found in situ and is an important piece of evidence for local pottery production in Ayasoluk.
Hamam IV (fig. 8)

This small bath lies about 200 m. to the north of the Isa Bey Mosque, in a garden environment in front of the western slope of the citadel hill. It is still relatively well preserved, yet the building substance has nevertheless been damaged by the sinking of the ground level and water damage. The first preservation efforts to date have involved the removal of damaging tree growth, and the measuring of the structure; furthermore, the enclosure of the piece of property by a fence has secured the monument and stopped further vandalism. Following the initial investigation of the monument, the recording of the building was begun.

Picture Captions
Fig. 1: Ayasoluk, Aerial photograph (© Fatma & Orhan Turgut - Hava Foto)
Fig. 2: Isa Bey Hamam, Aerial photograph (© Fatma & Orhan Turgut - Hava Foto)
Fig. 3: Isa Bey Hamam, Ground plan (© OEAI)
[Fig. 3a: Isa Bey Hamam, Building photograph (© OEAI)
Fig. 4: Isa Bey Hamam, Vestibule (© OEAI, Photo N. Gail)
Fig. 5: Isa Bey Hamam, Coin Hoard (© OEAI, Photo N. Gail)
Fig. 6: Isa Bey Hamam, Pottery (© OEAI, Photo N. Gail)
Fig. 7: Hamam III, Aerial photograph (© Fatma & Orhan Turgut - Hava Foto)
Fig. 8: Hamam III, Pottery production (© OEAI, Photo N. Gail)
Fig. 9: Hamam IV, Aerial photograph (© Fatma & Orhan Turgut - Hava Foto)

Contact:
Sabine Ladstätter
Co-workers:
Şule Pfeiffer-Taş (Overall finds, Ottoman sources and inscriptions, coins, pottery) Alfons Krickl (Building research)
Petra Turnovsky (Glass)
Joanita Vroom (Pottery)
Elisabeth Rathmayr (Metal finds)
Johanna Auinger (Spolia of ancient sculpture)
Karl Grossschmidt, Fabian Kanz (Anthropology)
Gerhard Forstenpoitner, Alfred Galik, Gerald Weissengruber, Stefan Zohhmann (Archäozoology)