Kelenderis Beşik Tonozlu Mezarları Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme
An Assessment on Barrel Vaulted Tombs of Kelenderis

Summary/Abstract: Kelenderis ancient city is one of the important harbors in Central Rough division of Cilicia Region in East Mediterranean world. Barrel vaulted tombs are placed in the West and North necropolies of the ancient city. These are investigated in two main groups in accordance with typological features; one floored and two floored. One floored tombs divided into two sub groups as single chamber with pronaos and single chamber with arcesolium. Researches in the region revealed that the most similar ones to the two floored type and single chamber with pronaos type tombs exist in Anemurium, Antiocheia ad Cragum, Selinus, Iotape, Syedra and Ovabaşı necropolises. Barrel vaulted tombs with similar features in these ancient cities are dated to A.D. 2nd-3rd centuries by comparison to Anemurium samples. This range of date is also applicable for Kelenderis samples. No other counterpart of the single chamber type tombs of Kelenderis with arcesolium has been detected, thus it can be said that this type is unique to the region. The architectural features of the tombs considered alone, it is not possible to make a chronological order as they consist solely of empty burial chambers. This is also relevant for burial customs. There is not much evidence that could be associated with burial cults. However, it has been discovered in light of the evidence obtained from archaeological excavations and descriptions of itinerants who visited the city in 19th century that burials were made in sarcophagi placed into the tombs. It is possible to explain the fact that the Vaulted Tombs of Kelenderis are without ornaments and smaller than the other ones in Cilicia Region by the partial loss of city’s prominence and power in the period.

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