Farther south, another ancient, storied city speaks to a different age and orientation. This city—strangely and dangerously—remains largely silent. Sardis was formerly the capital of the Iron Age empire of Lydia. As a historical silkroad outpost, it has for centuries been a colorful crossroads of cultures and traditions, where east greeted west. Archaeologists have recently uncovered a trove of history on the Lydians. They found the Greeks’ incredible invention of coinage and the mythical wealth of their king, King Croesus.
Excavation at Sardis has continued since 1958 under the direction of the Harvard-Cornell Exploration of Ancient Sardis. As one of the only long-term archaeological undertakings in the area, this project provides a remarkable opportunity. It has produced a treasure trove of geophysical data from Industrial Scale microtunnelling trenches that go down 12 meters! Just this year, Sardis received new international attention when it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This highly coveted designation will help leverage additional funding and better preserve this important historical landmark.
The story of Sardis is more than the ancient world’s treasures. It’s a powerful tale of centuries of human adaptation and ingenuity. This report describes that a wonderful, deep and complicated history of Sardis. It celebrates its archaeological significance and the ongoing campaign to commemorate its legacy.
Historical Significance of Sardis
Sardis was more than a beautiful city, it was a critical center of the ancient world. It was a perfect center, as it became established to the world’s most important trade networks. This site was a meeting point of many cultures, promoting cultural and economic exchange. Peter Thonemann The Lydians were damn innovation geniuses. The Lydians did develop coinage, which revolutionized patterns of trade and finance across the Mediterranean world.
King Croesus, perhaps the best known figure connected with Sardis, was known for his lavish wealth. His reign was the high point of the city’s wealth and power in the Iron Age. Most famously, Sardis came under the conquests of Alexander the Great, who ultimately absorbed the city into his vast burgeoning empire. This transition was a significant moment in the city’s history. Sardis eventually fell under the sway of the Roman Empire, which in time morphed into the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
The soil of Sardis conceals centuries of history waiting to be unearthed. These layered stories highlight not only the city’s stunning architectural beauty, but its key role in the creation of cultural narratives. In the 1950s and 1960s, builders heedfully rebuilt the grand monumental bath-gymnasium complex and the largest known synagogue from antiquity. This documentary artistry of the truly formidable renaissance emphasizes the city’s greatness in every period.
Ongoing Excavation Efforts
Sardis’s archaeological excavation is marked by its persistent dedication to revealing its richly layered past. It’s taken the Harvard-Cornell Exploration team nearly two decades to crack this sacred site’s code. Their commitment and hard work have accumulated a treasure trove of invaluable information through the years.
“This is why the long-term commitment is so important,” said Benjamin Anderson, a key figure in the excavation project. He noted that the first dig in this new process may not always be earth shattering. With enough doggedness over the year, you can learn a whole lot more about the site.
They are not just holes in the ground, they are beautiful windows into history. Before the site is paved over, local workers trained in archaeological methods carefully remove soil layers. Students are encouraged to closely watch and take notes on these processes, learning to recognize when noteworthy discoveries are made. Anderson noted that it was local labor that eventually dug up all that dirt. In parallel, the students were learning, documenting and critiquing the process, determining when to pull in the director or an associate director for deeper examination.
Such experiential learning is the crux of building expertise in archaeology. Leyla Uğurer, a local participant in the project, remarked, “To learn archaeology, you have to work at the site as well.” This mutually-beneficial knowledge transfer between local practitioners and academic researchers deepens the understanding of place-based challenges.
The Impact of UNESCO Recognition
The recent inscription of Sardis to the UNESCO World Heritage registry has been a cause for celebration and enthusiasm for researchers. Residents are just as excited about the international designation. This designation raises Sardis’s cultural presence on the world stage. Just as importantly, it lays the groundwork for additional appropriations to backstop the excavation’s continuation.
Leyla Uğurer expressed her views on this development: “First of all, now it is known worldwide… there can maybe be more funding for the excavation… People will know the area much better, and there will be more protection.” The impetus from the local community was clear that the special status from UNESCO could create the conditions for increased tourism and research opportunities.
This World Heritage designation highlights this international commitment to protecting Sardis’s archaeological integrity, while encouraging the public to experience its complex history. Anderson was keen to point out that this project has been different from the very beginning. It seeks to tell powerful stories through their results and to make their work visible and engaging to tourists and residents alike.
Sardis’s importance goes beyond its row of ancient ruins. Today it is a cultural bridge between the ancient and the modern world. Through providing space for hands-on engagement with archaeology, these initiatives strive to develop greater community connections to heritage. Uğurer reflected on her childhood admiration for archaeologists: “You were raised there… to be familiar with those archaeological works going on helps you understand the archaeological importance more.”