Located at the southeast edge of the Upper Agora, the Macellum (food market) of Sagalassos was erected in the late second century A.D. under the reign of the emperor Commodus, and was extensively rebuilt in the late fifth/early sixth century A.D. The archaeological excavations at the Macellum started in 2005. So far, the central courtyard–featuring in the middle a round monument or tholos–the western row of shops, the southern portico and the southern half of the eastern row of shops have been excavated.
The 2009 excavations at the Macellum will be focusing on the northern half of the complex. The northern section of the central courtyard will be excavated, as well as the northern row of shop likely featuring the monumental entrance of the complex. The junction between the eastern row of shops excavated in 2008 and the north wing of the Macellum will be further investigated. The major aim of the excavations will be to document the different architectural phases of the complex, with a specific focus on the original late second-century A.D. phase and the sixth-century rebuilding of the complex, including structural repairs and encroachment phenomena. As in previous years, specific attention will be devoted to the stratigraphy of the shops, in order to undertake contextual analysis in collaboration with the other scientific disciplines involved at Sagalassos.
