Excavations at Medieval Kinet, Turkey

Excavations in medieval levels at Kinet, Turkey, are uncovering remains of a Crusader era Mediterranean port town that dates from the late 12th to the early 14th century. The settlement's livelihood derived from industry (iron and glazed ceramic production), agriculture, and animal husbandry as well as regional and international trade. Finds at the site indicate maritime trade around the Mediterranean as far as Italy, as well as overland trade with Syria. Medieval Kinet thrived despite being burned three times. It lay near the southern border of the Kingdom of Armenian Cilicia, astride the major trade, communication, and invasion route between Cilicia and Syria. The medieval site was orthogonally planned, possibly by the Knights Templar.