Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex
Dara · Daras
Anastasian Roman (505–530 CE)·Eastern Roman (Anastasius Justinian)·🇹🇷 Mardin Province, Oğuz village, near Nusaybin, Turkey
About
About Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex
Tur-Abdin Roman city built to block Persian Nisibis, excavated by Keser 1986–, Procopius De Aedificiis description intact. Recorded context — Period: Anastasian Roman (505–530 CE); Culture: Eastern Roman (Anastasius Justinian); Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone, mortar, plaster; Condition: ruins.
Why it mattersKey Eastern Roman (Anastasius Justinian) hydraulic with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Astronomical alignment
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Observatory
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 505 CE walls; cistern 530 CE
- Period
- Anastasian Roman (505–530 CE)
- Culture
- Eastern Roman (Anastasius Justinian)
- Purpose
- Justinian border city with 10 m high vaulted cisterns (18,000 m³) and rock-cut necropolis of 3,000 graves
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1883
- Excavation
- Excavated
1970 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex
505 CE walls; cistern 530 CE
Initial construction / first occupation at Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex
On the ground
Structures & features
37.1760° N · 40.9530° E · 890 m · 3 mapped features
- Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex — Principal Cisterncisterncistern at Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex — subsidiary complex37.1761° N · 40.9516° E
- Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex — Aqueduct Annex 2aqueductaqueduct at Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex — outlier feature37.1748° N · 40.9532° E
- Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex — Southern Damdamdam at Dara Anastasiopolis — Eastern Roman Cistern Complex — hydraulic feature37.1776° N · 40.9528° E
Gallery