Öküzlü


Öküzlü is an archaeological site in Mersin Province, Turkey.

Geography

Öküzlü is situated in the rural area of Erdemli district which is rich in archaeological ruins. It is close to Batısandal village at about . There are many ruins around Öküzlü. Kanlıdivane and Elaiussa Sebaste are to the south, Emirzeli is to the west, Tapureli ruins are to the north of Öküzlü. Highway distance to the coastal town of Ayaş on Turkish state highway is. Öküzlü is also accessible from Limonlu. Its distance to Erdemli is and to Mersin is.

History

The original name of the site is not known. Turkish name Öküzlü refers to reliefs of oxen on column heads. Archaeological evidence from masonry imply that the site can be backdated to Hellenistic era. It was however reconstructed in the 5th or 6th centuries, i.e., early Byzantine era.

The ruins

The house ruins in the north of the site are examples of the polygonal and Byzantine masonry. One house is a peristyle house. The foundations of some buildings are carved rock. There are sarcophagi along the road. At the center of the site there are ruins of a basilica. The basilica with three naves and a transept is backdated to about 500. There is a smaller church situated about south of the basilica.