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This contribution discusses the Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine pottery collected during archaeological survey in the Bereket valley (territory of ancient Sagalassos, southwest Turkey). This collection contains both pottery imported from as yet unknown production centres and wares produced in the Potters’ Quarter of Sagalassos. Changes in the proportions of pottery produced at Sagalassos and those produced at other locations become visible in the fourthcentury AD material and reflect the evolving relationship between the peripheral valley of Bereket and the regional centre of Sagalassos. Yet, the undiminished quantity of pottery collected suggests that human activity continued without significant changes in habitation density. However, pollen cores from the same valley show that at more or less the same time crop cultivation diminished and was largely replaced by pastoralism. This shift occured at a time when climatic conditions had become more favourable for crop cultivation. A somewhat similar decrease in crop cultivation is also observed in Gravgaz marsh. In both valleys, this shift occured about 300 years earlier than in the rest of the territory of Sagalassos. Although the reasons for these changes cannot be determined on the basis of the study of survey pottery alone, the results presented show the importance of intensive survey and the study of peripheral areas for understanding inter-regional interaction patterns.

Two pollen sequences from the Classical city of Sagalassos (Pisidia, southwest Turkey) show that the hills just north of the city were forested during the main occupation period of the city (late Hellenistic to early Byzantine). They demonstrate that there was a mixed needle-leaved forest of Pinus, Cedrus libani and Abies cilicica. The platform on which the city sat was already deforested, as is indicated by the presence of pollen from various light demanding herbs. Furthermore, there is evidence that grapevines (Vitis) were cultivated, indicating that much of the land below the city was already exploited for agricultural purposes. Walnut trees were also cultivated near the city. It is probable that suburban farmsteads were present close to the city. The pollen sequences show that man-made deposits from high altitudes may contain important information on the former natural and cultural vegetation of mountain sites in Anatolia. Archaeologists and palynologists should draw more attention to these pollen rich man-made contexts.

As water mills are quickly disappearing throughout Turkey, it is becoming very difficult to collect information about this type of ancient technology. By means of an ethno-archaeological study carried out in the territory of ancient Sagalassos (Pisidia), the very limited remains of 15 water mills were recorded. Following the recent introduction of electric mills, water mills have lost their previous importance and today some of the mill houses are used as stables or shelters. Interviews with local people provided some information about the capacity of the mills and about the kind of grain that was ground in them. All the mills under discussion belong to the ‘ordinary’ horizontal-wheeled type of water mill. This type may have originated in or near Turkey during the Hellenistic period. A literary and archaeological study concerning the various types of mills showed that the type found near Sagalassos was best suited to local circumstances. Tax records confirm the presence of water mills in the area during early Ottoman times.

During 1993 the excavations at Sagalassos continued for their fourth season from 3 July until 19 August. From 21 until 28 August a survey was carried out in the district immediately south and south-east of the excavation site. The work was directed by Professor Marc Waelkens (Dept. of Archaeology, Catholic University of Leuven). A total of 45 Turkish workmen and 62 scientists or students from various countries (Belgium, Turkey, Great Britain, Portugal, France, Austria and Greece) were involved in the project. The team included 25 archaeologists, 8 illustrators, 8 architect-restorers (supervised by T. Patricio and directed by Prof. K. Van Balen and Prof. F. Hueber), 4 cartographers (directed by Prof. F. Depuydt), 2 geomorphologists (Prof. E. Paulissen and K. Vandaele), 2 archaeozoologists from the Museum of Central Africa at Tervuren (Belgium), 6 conservators (directed by G. Hibler-Vandenbulcke), 1 photographer (P. Stuyven), 2 computer specialists and 4 people taking care of everyday logistics. The Turkish Antiquities Department was represented by Mrs. Nurhan Ülgen for the first and by Mrs. Aliye Yamancı for the second half of the season, whom we both thank for their much appreciated help and collaboration.

During 1991 large-scale excavations at Sagalassos continued for their second season from 13 July until 5 September. The work was directed by Professor Marc Waelkens (Dept. of Archaeology, Catholic University of Leuven). A total of 42 scientists from various countries (Belgium, Turkey, Great Britain, Germany and Portugal) as well as 25 local workmen (supervised by Mr. Ali Toprak) carried out the work. The team included 20 archaeologists, 4 illustrators (supervised by G. Evsever and R. Kotsch), 4 architect-restorers (directed by Prof. R. Lemaire and Dr. K. Van Balen), 3 cartographers (directed by Prof. F Depuydt), 2 geologists (directed by Prof. W. Viaene), 2 geomorphologists (Prof. J. De Ploey and Prof. E. Paulissen), 1 archaeozoologist (Dr. W. Van Neer), 1 anthropologist (Dr. Chr. Charlier), 2 restorers for the small finds (directed by Miss K. Norman) and 1 photographer (P. Stuyven). The Turkish Antiquities Department was represented by Muhammet Alkan from the Sivas Museum, whom we thank for his help. Financial support came from the Research Council of the Catholic University of Leuven, the Belgian Fund for Collective Fundamental Research (F.K.F.O.), the Belgian Programme on Interuniversity Poles of Attraction (I.U.A.P. no 28), the National Bank of Belgium, the ASLK/CGER Bank, the tour operator ORION, the car rental company Interleasing, the restoration company E. G. Verstraete & Vanhecke N. V., Agfa-Gevaert films and the association “Friends of Sagalassos”.

After five years of survey and the rescue excavation in 1989, large scale excavations started at Sagalassos from July 11th until August 22nd 1990. The work was directed by Professor Marc Waelkens (Dept. of Archaeology, Catholic University of Leuven) and by the Archaeological Museum of Burdur, represented by Ali Harmankaya, temporary director of the museum, who also represented the Turkish Antiquities Department. During the excavation the Council of Ministers granted a full scale excavation permit to Marc Waelkens. The team included 18 scientists and students from the Catholic University of Leuven, three from Britain and four from Turkey. Financial support came from the Research Council of the Catholic University of Leuven, from the Belgian Fund for Collective Fundamental Research, the Flemish Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Flemish Community (Foreign Relations), the ASLK/CGER Bank, the Belgian tour operator ORION, and from the association “Friends of Sagalassos”. Thanks are due to the Anıtlar ve Müzeler Genel Müdürlüǧü and the Bakanlar Kurulu, who gave permission for the excavation, to the staff of the Emniyet Müdürlüǧü and the Archaeological Museum in Burdur, and to the Belediye officials and the inhabitants of Aǧlasun.

During 1989 the Pisidian survey project continued for its fifth season at Sagalassos. The survey was directed in the first half of the season by Dr. S. Mitchell (University College of Swansea) and in the second half by Prof. M. Waelkens (Catholic University of Leuven and National Fund for Scientific Research, Belgium). The team consisted of Prof. W. Viaene (geologist), Dr. M. Lodewijckx, R. Degeest, E. Scheltens, L. Vandeput, H. Bracke, A. De Daele, P. De Jonghe (Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium), Dr. E. Owens (University College of Swansea), Dr. Chr. Lightfoot (The British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara), Mr. R. Fursdon, R. Harrison and A. Young (topographers, University of Newcastle), and F. Richards (Sydney University). For 3 weeks we were joined by Selçuk Baser, director of the Museum of Burdur, who with M. Waelkens, directed a rescue excavation in the potters' quarter. Muhsin Endoǧru (Boǧazköy Museum) represented the Turkish Antiquities Department. The main financial support came from the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium), the Prime Ministry of the Flemish Community (Belgium), the Flemish Ministry of Education (Belgium), the British Academy and the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara.

A small, thin, rectangular limestone plaque, bearing a five-line inscription, was copied by A.H. in the Konya Archaeological Museum in September 1980. The stone lacked an inventory number, and the Museum's staff could supply no information about its provenance. One may presume, however, that it has reached the Museum in recent years, probably after discovery in Konya itself. As will be demonstrated below, other grounds exist for supposing that it comes from Konya, but a provenance elsewhere in the Konya İli cannot be ruled out.The block is complete to left and right, probably complete above and below, broken behind: H. 0·16, W. 0·32, Th. 0·06, with letters varying between 1·5 and 3 cm. (the smallest on the bottom line) which are irregular in shape and unevenly set out on the stone (see photograph of squeeze, Plate XXVIIa). The face is slightly damaged at its top right-hand corner and at the bottom left.

The survey of these two sites was resumed on 1 July 1987. The Cremna season, directed by Stephen Mitchell, ran until 25 July; from 27 July to 20 August the team worked at Sagalassus under Marc Waelkens. The other participants were Mustafa Büyükkolancı, Sarah Cormack, Christopher Lightfoot and Edwin Owens (archaeologists), William Hargrove and Claire Robinson (student assistants), Anthea Cudworth, Robin Fursdon, Duncan Mallace, and Mark Willy (surveyors), Greg Horsley (epigraphist), and Kirsty Norman (conservator). Our representative was Sabri Aydal of Antalya Museum, who also provided valuable and expert assistance to the surveyors. We are grateful, as in previous seasons, to many local people for help and support: to Selçuk Başer, Ali Harmankaya and the staff of the Burdur Museum; to the officers of the Emniyet Müdürlüǧü at Burdur and of the Jandarma at Bucak and Aǧlasun; to the villagers at Çamlık, and to Sabit Kaya, Kaymakam of Aǧlasun, who provided us with accommodation. The work was funded by the British Academy, the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, the Craven Committee of Oxford University, the Roman Society, and the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium). Above all we are grateful to the Director General of Antiquities and Museums in Turkey, Nurettin Yardımcı, and to his staff, especially to Nimet Berkok and Mustafa Karahan, for granting permission for the survey and for much other assistance.

During 1988 the Pisidian survey project continued at a new site, Ariassos, and for a fourth season at Sagalassos. The team, directed at Ariassos by Dr. S. Mitchell and at Sagalassos by Professor M. Waelkens (Dept. of Archaeology, Catholic University of Leuven, Research Associate of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium)) consisted of Bay Sabri Aydal of Antalya Museum (topographer), Dr. E. Owens, Y. Day, and A. Millard (University College of Swansea), S. Cormack (Yale University), Dr. M. Lodewijckx, R. Degeest, L. Vandeput, and C. Nuitjen (University of Leuven), D. Roberts, R. Johnson, and S. Corker (University of Newcastle), A. Schulz and D. Pohl (University of Münster), and Osman Ermişler (Konya Museum), who represented the Turkish Antiquities Department. The main financial support for Ariassos came from the British Academy and the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, and for Sagalassos from the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium) and from the Flemish Ministry of Education (Belgium). Thanks are due to the Eski Eserler ve Müzeler Genel Müdürlüǧü, who gave permission for the survey and provided surveying equipment, to the staff of the Emniyet Müdürlüǧü in Antalya and in Burdur, and to the Belediye officials and the inhabitants of Bademaǧacı and of Aǧlasun.

A second season of survey work at Sagalassus and Cremna in Pisidia was started on 2 July and continued until 12 August 1986. This was the most recent instalment of a project to carry out detailed archaeological and architectural studies of the surviving remains of the Graeco–Roman cities of this region. Between 1982 and 1984 we had worked at the Roman colony of Pisidian Antioch, and a final report is nearing completion. In 1985, we began at Cremna, another Roman colony, with the intention of complementing the excavation of the site carried out in the early 1970s by a team from Istanbul University led by Professor Jale İnan, and also spent a few days of preliminary reconnaissance at the metropolis of Roman Pisidia, Sagalassus (see AS. XXXVI, 1986, 8–10). All the field work has been funded by the British Academy, the British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara, the Roman Society, and the Craven Committee of Oxford University. In 1986 the team worked at Sagalassus until 24 July, thereafter we were at Cremna. The participants were Dr. Stephen Mitchell, Dr. Marc Waelkens, Dr. Gregory Horsley, Dr. Edwin Owens, Mr. Robin Fursdon (chief surveyor), Roger Bruton, Mark Critchley, Helen Thackray (student surveyors), Roger and Miranda McKearney.