Abstract:

Rescue excavations conducted by the Muğla Museum Directorate in the Değirmendere Locality within the territory of Yeşilbağcılar in Yatağan District of Muğla Province, found remains belonging to olive oil presses and nearby complexes with rectangular rooms, not identifiable. A structure with a discernible layout was found on the eastern end of these remains, better preserved due to its location on sloping ground, and in the southwest are storage areas side by side, and in the area in between these two are the remains belonging to unidentifiable multi-room complexes. In these remains were found a bronze jewellery box that had survived untouched for a thousand years. It contained two pairs of earrings, three necklace pendants, two bracelets and three rings -most likely the jewellery set of an East Roman woman - together with a piece of quartz (rock crystal) and a die of bone. These finds are compared with similar examples of various provenances and museums and are assessed in respect to the find’s context and its quality. The finds are presented together with their production and decoration techniques and proposals are made concerning provenance and methods of production. This group of jewellery within a bronze box is of importance representing the fashion in jewellery of the Middle East Roman period.

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