Uncovering the Maritime Secrets of Aperlae, a Coastal Settlement of Ancient Lycia

Abstract

At the terminus of one of the Mediterranean's countless exposed bays, open and vulnerable to the ravages of the sea, the fortified town of Aperlae surprisingly boasts an impressive complex of ruins that speak clearly to the town's prosperity. A clue to why Aperlae flourished may be found in the ubiquitous remains of the sea snail murex, the basis of Tyrian purple dye. Aperlae and the submerged ruins of its waterfront offer an attractive arena for maritime archaeology, especially because local ports have not received even a small portion of the attention lavished on advanced international harbors.