Öküzlü is an archaeological site inMersin Province,Turkey.
 Basilica at Öküzlü | |
  Öküzlü Shown within Turkey | |
| Location | Erdemli,Mersin Province,Turkey |
|---|---|
| Region | Cilicia Trachea |
| Coordinates | 36°34′0″N34°09′40″E / 36.56667°N 34.16111°E /36.56667; 34.16111 |
| Type | Settlement |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
Öküzlü (Öküzlüklü) is situated in the rural area ofErdemli district which is rich in archaeological ruins. It is close toBatısandal village. There are many ruins around Öküzlü.Kanlıdivane andElaiussa Sebaste are to the south,Emirzeli is to the west,Tapureli ruins are to the north of Öküzlü. Highway distance to the coastal town ofAyaş on Turkish state highwayD.400 is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi).[1] Öküzlü is also accessible fromLimonlu (Lamos of the antiquity). Its distance to Erdemli is 30 kilometres (19 mi) and toMersin is 67 kilometres (42 mi).
The original name of the site is not known. Turkish name Öküzlü (literally "with ox") refers to reliefs of oxen on column heads (now inMersin Museum). Archaeological evidence from masonry imply that the site can be backdated toHellenistic era. It was however reconstructed in the 5th or 6th centuries, i.e., earlyByzantine era.
The house ruins in the north of the site are examples of the polygonal and Byzantine masonry. One house is aperistyle house. The foundations of some buildings are carved rock. There aresarcophagi 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 500 metres (1,600 ft) south of the basilica.[2]
