Archaeological excavations carried out in the Topraktepe Ancient City (anciently known as Eirenopolis) in the Ermenek district of Karaman witnessed a very remarkable discovery that shed light on the early Christian period of Anatolia.
According to the statement made by Karaman Governorship, in the ancient city five carbonated loaves of bread remains were detected. Authorities emphasized that these finds are among the best preserved examples unearthed to date in Anatolia.
Five Breads That Remained Carbonized
The fact that the breads found during the excavations have survived intact for thousands of years is considered to be a rare archaeological phenomenon. According to experts, the carbonization process ensured that the breads were sealed in time, preserving both their form and the details on them. This situation TopraktepeIt puts ‘in an exceptional position in terms of Anatolian food archaeology.
Excavations were carried out in accordance with the permissions of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums. Karaman Museum Directorate continues under his chairmanship.
A Unique Example with the Inscription: “With Thanks to the Blessed Jesus”
Among the findings, a piece of bread stands out with its iconographic and epigraphic elements. In the examinations, it was seen that on the bread Hz. A depiction of Jesus It was determined that an inscription in Greek was found. In the inscription, “With thanksgiving to the blessed Jesus” It was determined that the statement was included.
What is even more striking is that Jesus is depicted as a “sower” or “farmer Jesus”, unlike the classical “Pantocrator”, that is, savior figure. Experts state that this depiction shows that the concepts of labor, production and fertility had a sacred meaning in the religious understanding of the period.
Findings That Shed Light on Early Christian Rituals
In the other four bread examples, Printed decorations in the form of the Maltese Cross detected. These symbols indicate that these breads were used in ceremonies in the early Christianity period rather than for daily consumption. “communion breads” It indicates that it may be (eucharist bread).
Bread was not only a staple food in early Christian communities; It was also considered a symbol of divine abundance, sharing and community awareness. In this respect, the Topraktepe finds are of great importance in terms of revealing local interpretations of early Christian rituals in Anatolia.
New Data on the Food and Belief History of Anatolia
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, in his statement on the subject, stated that important findings about the nutritional culture of Anatolia are increasingly being unearthed. Ersoy stated that the 4,000-year-old chickpeas in Kütahya Tavşanlı Höyük, the 8,600-year-old bread remains in Konya Çatalhöyük, and the thousands-year-old bread finds in Karaman Topraktepe are concrete indicators of this continuity.
These discoveries showed that Anatolia was not only agricultural; It reveals that religious, cultural and social memory can be monitored uninterruptedly.
Depiction of “Jesus the Sower” and Local Christian Interpretation
The figures and inscriptions on the breads found in Topraktepe reveal how diverse the representations of Jesus were during the early Christian period. The depiction of “Jesus the Sower” offers a powerful iconographic expression symbolizing the bond between humans working on the soil and divine fertility.
Researchers say that such finds are not only religious; He also emphasizes that it should be evaluated in terms of economic structure, production relations and social values.
Expectations from Future Excavations
Archaeologists state that if oven areas, storage structures or ritual spaces related to bread are identified in the following excavation seasons, much more comprehensive data about the daily life of early Christian communities can be obtained.
These unique finds unearthed in Topraktepe Ancient City seem to be a candidate to take Karaman to an important point not only in the regional but also in the international archaeological literature.
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