摘要: Justification of Outstanding Universal Value　　The site of Sagalassos remains almost completely preserved, with the monumental structures, where in some cases almost all the original building stones ca

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

　　The site of Sagalassos remains almost completely preserved, with the monumental structures, where in some cases almost all the original building stones can be recovered. It is an exceptional and unique case to find a middle sized but highly flourished town in such a well preserved state. An interdisciplinary archaeological research conducted on the site for the last nineteen years has documented all layers and kinds of occupation, delivering a coherent set of archaeological and environmental results that contribute to the history of the region. All these remains document at least a thousand years of continuous occupation (3^rd century BC-13^th century AD).

　　The site, the current town and the region have the exemplary potential to be integrated into the "sustainable rural development strategy" of the Turkish State (State Planning Organization 2006) that covers universally excepted concepts. It can be opened, in a controlled manner, for sustainable alternative tourism options, such as hiking, mountaineering and eco-tourism, ensuring the preservation of unique values it bares. For this purpose, a site management project that takes the wider region into account is in the process of being developed, in collaboration with the scientists of the international archaeological research project.

　　Criterion (ii): The urban planning of the ancient city is remarkable considering the difficult terrain situation upon which the settlement was founded. These terrain conditions were adapted and used as an advantage to lay out a coherent and impressive monumental centre, technically sound in engineering terms and as regularly planned as possible. Natural terraces on the mountain slopes were used for the construction of large scale monuments and when necessary, for instance at the complex of Roman Baths, the hill-tops were enlarged by means of multiple subterranean vaulted chambers to create larger floor surfaces.

　　To create the Colonnaded Street as a monumental rectilinear backbone of the urban plan natural depressions in the landscape were filled up.

　　In order to achieve a large terrace within the city, such as a public square, sometimes it was necessary to excavate a slope. In such cases, the retaining wall against the hill was not left as a plain terrace wall but was instead often adorned with magnificently elaborate monumental fountains, in compliance with the principles of Roman urbanism.

　　The natural flood risks were taken into account in urban planning as well. It was proven by geomorphological studies that the large open areas such as Agora's were carefully situated within the urban fabric to collect and drain the natural floods flushing down the mountains, hence protecting the buildings from damage.

　　Moreover, excavations showed that also the architectural form and placement of buildings took into account the local hydrological conditions. A full fledged subterranean drainage system assisted in managing the effects of the hardening of surfaces resulting from the urban development of the town.

　　The use of natural water resources was also carefully planned. In fact only few towns in the region show such an abundant water display in Roman times as Sagalassos. Water was collected, distributed, displayed and recycled within a complex network which is being further documented and studied at the moment.

　　Recycling of natural resources could also be followed in the use of wood, where Sagalassians must have established and followed a forest recovery regime, to be able to sustain the pottery production and other industry their economy was dependent upon. Considering the fact that the site is barren today, this information bares further importance for today's and future generations.

　　At the monumental scale, it should be stressed that architectural decoration was of top quality in the city. Some monuments such as the Northwest Heroon are especially important examples of architectural decoration as they testify to the Romanization of the region bearing important West Roman influences in style.

　　The high altitude, at which the site is located, has made Sagalassos a unique example of a well preserved provincial town of the Roman Imperial period. In the case of ashlar monuments up to 90 % of the original building elements can be recovered during excavations and this provides unique possibilities to represent a classical city to the public.

　　Not only building blocks but entire statues, some at colossal scale, have been recovered during recent archaeological excavations, in very good state of preservation. Besides the ones found in the two most important monumental fountains of the city, the piered hall of the large Roman Baths complex has delivered a set of colossal imperial statuary in the last couple of years. These include, the best preserved head, leg and feet of Emperor Hadrian uncovered until now, executed in highest workmanship and the head and the legs of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Only the southern half of the monumental hall has been unearthed until today. More statues of the Imperial family are expected to be found preserved in the central and northern part of the space. This statuary of unique artistic quality not only testifies to the importance, the wealth and the power of the city in antiquity but also provides answers to macro questions concerning the Roman political system, the governing of a provincial town, the mechanisms of art as a craftsmanship etc, which are being widely studied by the archaeological research project.

　　The current excavations in the monumental centre uncover essentially an early to late Byzantine town. Sagalassos is now almost the only excavation area, where, all evidence from the transition from late antiquity to the early Byzantine period has been kept. Besides, the newly discovered settlement at Tepe Duzen to the southwest of the monumental centre, has a complete different nature of archaeological remains and seems to bare undisturbed evidence for Hellenistic and earlier periods of Pisidian culture.

　　Criterion (iii): With its at least thousand years of continuous pottery production, Sagalassos has become the longest non-stop producing potters' centre of classical antiquity. The geophysical mapping of this site during 2004 season has identified already over 50 kilns and workshops documented a thousand years of pottery production, first serving a regional market, but eventually becoming a real "industry" for export throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. Sagalassos is one of the five major production centres of eastern sigillata (Roman pottery), but the only one which is localized and can still be studied. The exceptional importance of local craft industries at Sagalassos should also be stressed, with a very original range of products attesting to human creativity. Extensive research conducted on different aspects of craft production helped initiate a debate on the so far not so much acknowledged role of artisanal activities to the economy of a town or region.