1
natural stone industry, where Burdur Beige is today a
trademark in the global markets for marble because of
it flexible and wide spread application in a variety of
architectural settings and public spaces.
prehısTorıc rooTs
2
3
1. burdur-gur
beıge (yeşilovayarışlı köyü)
2. moonstone
cream (burdur
merkez-yayladibi
köyü)
3. SagalaSSoS
beıge grey
(burdur
ağlasunyumurtaş köyü)
4. crema saray
(yeşilovabaşkuyu)
4
As is the case for almost all Anatolian cities in Turkey,
Burdur’s history goes back to ancient times. The
archeological excavations supervised by Prof. J. Mellaart
in Hacılar and by Prof. Refik Duru, in Kuruçay Höyük and
Bucak Höyücek Höyük, have revealed findings from the
Neolithic Ages, as far as back as 7000 BC. The first artistic
marble discoveries in Burdur are the soil-marble mix
violin figures that have been dated to the Chalcolithic Age
or Copper Age from 4500 BC.
The Burdur Archeological Museum where artifacts from
9000 years of human existence are on display, has
an array of collections including numerous stone and
marble-made handcrafts from antique cities found in
Burdur such as Kibyra, Kremna and Sagalossos. These
cities, all of which are important centers of civilization
dating from prehistoric to Hellenistic times, show
widespread use of marble in their art and architecture.
Kibyra, a town with roots dating back to 300 BC which
has features of Greek and Lycian civilization, has marble
friezes lining its road of monuments that led to the
ancient city’s arena. Numerous statues of gods and
goddesses are carved out of marble in Kremna, a colony
under the rule of the Roman Empire in Hellenistic times.
A 4 meter high monument in the beige marble is a major
archaeological remnant in the ancient Roman city of
Sagalossos, made in honor of the Great Alexander under
the order of Emperor Augustus.
All of these ancient sites make use of the local Burdur
marble. With the expansion of Greek civilization in the
Hellenistic period to places such as Burdur the cream
and beige marbles of medium to fine-grains found in
the area were favored for their sparkle. The popularity of
the cream colored Burdur marble in ancient civilizations
has extended to our day where today it is once again a
popular marble with worldwide recognition. A quality
that resonated long ago in the sculptures of ancient
gods and emperors is now a popular stone used in many
public settings.
a FlexıBle and duraBle marBle
A harder and more resistant marble, Burdur Beige is
known for its sun, water and acid resistant qualities. The
MAYIS-HAZİRAN / MAY-JUNE 2011 • NATURA 45