Funde und Befunde aus dem Schachtbrunnen im Hamam III in Ayasuluk/Ephesos

This volume, which examines the findings in a shaft well and an excavation in front of the praefurnium of the Hamam III in Ayasuluk/Ephesus, provides information about an as yet unique burial site that is interesting for a number of reasons. The well was the site of a mid-15th century burial of two bodies, which clearly had been desecrated, together with a noble riding horse and a dog. In addition, two horses’ skulls were found on either side of the praefurnium of the hamam, which had already been abandoned at that time. These findings must be seen in the context of shamanism, which has been documented for Turkic peoples in the pre-Ottoman period and can be traced to early roots. The findings demonstrate the historic and cultural changes characteristic for the early period of Ottoman rule in Ayasuluk. A wide number of questions are presented by the findings and thus, each group of artefacts underwent archaeological, anthropological, historical veterinary and chemical analyses. Although the interpretations offered here are in part hypothetical, publishing these interesting findings prior to presenting the final results of the entire hamam site seems important, as it will give a new impetus for further research.