Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis
The last unexcavated city of the New Testament finally opened in 2025
Found 2025 — Barış Yener, Pamukkale University, under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (surveys 2021–2024; excavation from 2025)
Where Colossae (Honaz), Denizli Province (Turkey)
Dates from Necropolis c. 3rd–1st century BCE; city occupied c. 5000 BCE–13th century CE · Hellenistic–Roman (mound occupied from the Chalcolithic) · Letter to the Colossians; Philemon
Now at In situ; finds to Denizli Museum
How Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis was found
After decades of surface surveys (Australian team of Alan Cadwallader from 2005, Pamukkale surveys from 2021), the ministry granted an excavation permit. The first season cleared a 20,000-square-metre necropolis on the travertine slope with about 60 rock-cut 'bathtub' graves and began work on the mound and theatre.
What it is
A 30 m high settlement mound (höyük) beside the Lycus, an unexcavated theatre cut into the hillside, and a large cemetery of graves carved into bedrock, which yielded skeletons, amulets, healing stones, lamps, glass bottles and coins. Inscriptions and a Byzantine church are known from earlier survey.
Why it matters for the Bible
Colossae is the home of Philemon, Onesimus and Epaphras and the address of Paul's letter warning against angel-worship and 'philosophy'. Until 2025 it was the only city with a New Testament letter that had never been excavated. The magical amulets in the tombs — earlier than Paul — show a local taste for protective charms and spirit powers that fits the letter's stress on Messiah above 'thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities'.
The Hebrew word: ke-hee-LAH
קְהִלָּה
קְהִלָּה is pronounced ke-hee-LAH and means assembly, congregation — the Hebrew behind Greek ekklesia, 'church in your house' (Strong's H6952).
People this discovery connects to
- Philemon — פִילֵימוֹן (fee-LAY-mon) — Greek Philemon, 'affectionate'; host of the Colossian assembly
- Epaphras — אֶפַּפְרָס (e-paf-RAHS) — Greek Epaphras; founder of the Colossian assembly
Places
- Colossae — קוֹלַסֵּי (ko-lah-SAY) — Greek Kolossai
Events
Founding of the assembly at Colossae by Epaphras · Paul's letters to the Colossians and to Philemon
Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis in Scripture
Colossians 1:2 The letter's address to the saints at Colossae — the newly opened site.
Questions people ask
What is Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis?
A 30 m high settlement mound (höyük) beside the Lycus, an unexcavated theatre cut into the hillside, and a large cemetery of graves carved into bedrock, which yielded skeletons, amulets, healing stones, lamps, glass bottles and coins. Inscriptions and a Byzantine church are known from earlier survey.
When was Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis discovered?
It was found in 2025 by Barış Yener, Pamukkale University, under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism (surveys 2021–2024; excavation from 2025), at Colossae (Honaz), Denizli Province.
Where is Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis today?
In situ; finds to Denizli Museum.
Which Bible verses does Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis relate to?
Colossians 1:2.
Related discoveries
- פּוֹשֵׁרLaodicea: Lukewarm Water and the Early ChurchCalcified pipes, the Hierapolis hot springs, and a 4th-century church in the city that was 'neither hot nor cold'
- פּוּךְLaodicea: Temple A, the Western Theatre and the StadiumThe Şimşek excavations that turned a bare hill into a city of Revelation
- עַזָּהGaza: Anthedon (Blakhiyah) and the Roman NecropolisThe excavated harbor town north of Gaza and the 2022 cemetery with lead sarcophagi
- כֵּיפָאTomb of Peter beneath St Peter's BasilicaA 2nd-century shrine over a simple grave, with the graffito 'Petros eni'
- חֻרְבָּןJerusalem's 586 BCE Destruction LayerBurnt Room, House of Ahiel, Givati ash and arrowheads — the fall of Jerusalem in the ground
- בָּמָהLachish Gate Shrine and Desecrated ToiletA gate sanctuary with broken altar horns and a stone latrine — Hezekiah's reform in action?
Sources
- The Ancient City of Colossae Yields 2,200-Year-Old Rock-Cut Necropolis (Anatolian Archaeology, 2025)
- Colossae Ancient City Excavation Works Begin (Arkeonews)
- Colossae: A Biblical City of the Classical World (Biblical Archaeology Society)
Open Colossae: First Excavations and the Rock-Cut Necropolis in Hebrew Explorer →