Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Lystra in Konya province have turned up a string of remarkable finds. Among the latest discoveries is a rare bronze amulet believed to date to the Seljuk era. The artifact sheds new light on religious life and cultural continuity in medieval Anatolia.
The Seljuk era (11th–14th centuries) marks the period of dominance of the Turkic Seljuk dynasty, which established a powerful Seljuk Empire (1037–1194). At its height, the state stretched from Anatolia to the Aral Sea, spreading Sunni Islam, Persian culture, and Turkic military traditions.
The excavations in Lystra are being conducted with the permission of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, led by Necmettin Erbakan University (NEU), and supported by local authorities. The project is directed by Turkish archaeologist Dr. Ilker Mete Mimiroglu, according to Arkeonews. He reported that the second year of archaeological work in Lystra has successfully concluded.
Lystra – The City Visited by Saint Paul
Ancient Lystra is known as one of the cities visited by Saint Paul, making it a significant site for the study of early Christianity. Lystra has long attracted historians and archaeologists because its history layers Roman and late antique periods with the Seljuk and Ottoman eras.
Dr. Mimiroglu said the initial focus of the excavations was the main church complex, which turned out to be much larger and more complex than scholars had anticipated.
“Last year, we continued excavating the main church and discovered that it is part of a large architectural complex. In addition to the chapel, we also found another church structure dating back to the late antique period,” the excavation leader explained.
One of the most striking discoveries awaited researchers in the upper part of the church complex, where they uncovered roughly 80 graves. Many of these belonged to Christians who lived in the region during Seljuk rule. Inside the graves, researchers found glazed inkpots and turquoise beads from that period. This confirms historical records of Christian communities living under Seljuk rule in Anatolia. The find is significant because material evidence of Christians’ daily lives during the Seljuk era is rare.
Triangular Bronze Amulet – An Archaeological Rarity
The standout artifact unearthed this season is a bronze amulet hidden inside a residential building from the Seljuk period. The triangular amulet, found next to a green glazed inkpot, is a pendant designed to be worn on a chain. Both sides of the amulet feature inscriptions arranged in two lines.
Amulets of this type are most commonly found in Central Asia, where soldiers and travelers often wore them as protective charms. The discovery of such an amulet in Lystra highlights the cultural connections between Anatolia and the broader Seljuk world.
The excavations in Lystra have not been limited to religious structures. On the hillside, archaeologists uncovered Ottoman-period residential buildings. Among the finds was an Austrian silver coin from the 17th century, evidence that Lystra continued to play a role in regional and international trade during the Ottoman Empire.
