Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Ümmühan Melda Ermiş; Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı

Article Details

Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Authors:

Ümmühan Melda Ermiş | Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Medieval Age Archeology

Journal:

Anatolian Research Issue 32, pp.254-272

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355403

pISSN:

0569-9746

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Recent research and archaeological excavations in Iznik, known as Nikaia in ancient times, have uncovered significant new findings from the Byzantine period. One of these findings is from the Iznik Tile Kilns excavation, which has provided detailed information on Ottoman tile and ceramic production techniques and processes for many years. During the excavation seasons from 2019 to 2024, the remains of a previously unknown Byzantine religious building were discovered adjacent to the kilns, differing from the general context of the excavations. The excavation area was utilized by Ottomanera tile and ceramic workshops for many years. First, the workshops and then the modern residences built in the region after the workshops lost their function ruined the Byzantine structure. The excavations suggest that the building was likely the main church, with a side chapel located to its north. The main church suffered significant destruction due to the tile kilns established on its site during the Ottoman period, though part of its apse remains intact. The side chapel features better preserved architectural details, despite being partially damaged by modern houses built above it. This study offers preliminary evaluations of the buildings architectural features and small finds, while also noting that the location of the newly discovered church aligns with that of the Kerameon Monastery, as indicated by information from Byzantine sources.

 Recent research and archaeological excavations in Iznik, known as Nikaia in ancient times, have uncovered significant new findings from the Byzantine period. One of these findings is from the Iznik Tile Kilns excavation, which has provided detailed information on Ottoman tile and ceramic production techniques and processes for many years. During the excavation seasons from 2019 to 2024, the remains of a previously unknown Byzantine religious building were discovered adjacent to the kilns, differing from the general context of the excavations. The excavation area was utilized by Ottomanera tile and ceramic workshops for many years. First, the workshops and then the modern residences built in the region after the workshops lost their function ruined the Byzantine structure. The excavations suggest that the building was likely the main church, with a side chapel located to its north. The main church suffered significant destruction due to the tile kilns established on its site during the Ottoman period, though part of its apse remains intact. The side chapel features better preserved architectural details, despite being partially damaged by modern houses built above it. This study offers preliminary evaluations of the buildings architectural features and small finds, while also noting that the location of the newly discovered church aligns with that of the Kerameon Monastery, as indicated by information from Byzantine sources.

 Recent research and archaeological excavations in Iznik, known as Nikaia in ancient times, have uncovered significant new findings from the Byzantine period. One of these findings is from the Iznik Tile Kilns excavation, which has provided detailed information on Ottoman tile and ceramic production techniques and processes for many years. During the excavation seasons from 2019 to 2024, the remains of a previously unknown Byzantine religious building were discovered adjacent to the kilns, differing from the general context of the excavations. The excavation area was utilized by Ottomanera tile and ceramic workshops for many years. First, the workshops and then the modern residences built in the region after the workshops lost their function ruined the Byzantine structure. The excavations suggest that the building was likely the main church, with a side chapel located to its north. The main church suffered significant destruction due to the tile kilns established on its site during the Ottoman period, though part of its apse remains intact. The side chapel features better preserved architectural details, despite being partially damaged by modern houses built above it. This study offers preliminary evaluations of the buildings architectural features and small finds, while also noting that the location of the newly discovered church aligns with that of the Kerameon Monastery, as indicated by information from Byzantine sources.

 Recent research and archaeological excavations in Iznik, known as Nikaia in ancient times, have uncovered significant new findings from the Byzantine period. One of these findings is from the Iznik Tile Kilns excavation, which has provided detailed information on Ottoman tile and ceramic production techniques and processes for many years. During the excavation seasons from 2019 to 2024, the remains of a previously unknown Byzantine religious building were discovered adjacent to the kilns, differing from the general context of the excavations. The excavation area was utilized by Ottomanera tile and ceramic workshops for many years. First, the workshops and then the modern residences built in the region after the workshops lost their function ruined the Byzantine structure. The excavations suggest that the building was likely the main church, with a side chapel located to its north. The main church suffered significant destruction due to the tile kilns established on its site during the Ottoman period, though part of its apse remains intact. The side chapel features better preserved architectural details, despite being partially damaged by modern houses built above it. This study offers preliminary evaluations of the buildings architectural features and small finds, while also noting that the location of the newly discovered church aligns with that of the Kerameon Monastery, as indicated by information from Byzantine sources.

Article Details

Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Authors:

Ümmühan Melda Ermiş | Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Medieval Age Archeology

Journal:

Anatolian Research Issue 32, pp.254-272

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355403

pISSN:

0569-9746

Bithynia

Nikaia

Iznik

Byzantine

Church

Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Issues

Article Details

Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Authors: Ümmühan Melda Ermiş | Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Medieval Age Archeology

Journal: Anatolian Research Issue 32, pp.254-272

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001355403

pISSN: 0569-9746

Bithynia

Nikaia

Iznik

Byzantine

Church

Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Issues

Authors:

Ümmühan Melda Ermiş | Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Medieval Age Archeology

Journal:

Anatolian Research Issue 32, pp.254-272

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001355403

pISSN:

0569-9746