Iuliopolis: Religious, Commercial, and Social Life in the Byzantine Era

Abstract

The ancient city of Iuliopolis, located in proximity to the Nallıhan district of Ankara and now largely submerged, has been subject to archaeological excavations between 2009 and 2025. Specifically, Church No. 1, the Eastern Necropolis, and the Larder structure have played a pivotal role in deciphering the multilayered structure of this era. The pithoi, a type of storage vessel, are indicative of the urban organisation of agricultural production, including viticulture and grain cultivation. Furthermore, the presence of African Red Slip Ware ceramics recovered from the fill layers provides further evidence for Iuliopolis's integration into the Mediterranean trade network, a phenomenon comparable to that observed in other major cities in and around Ankara. Collectively, these findings confirm that Iuliopolis was a developed city characterised by local production, extensive trade, and powerful religious authority, and that it was strategically located on an important transportation route.