Gubaz Mustafa Kibaroglu, PhD | Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (original) (raw)
Papers by Gubaz Mustafa Kibaroglu, PhD
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports , 2025
The Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean (c. 1600–1200 BCE) was a period characterized by... more The Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean (c. 1600–1200 BCE) was a period characterized by intensive intercultural connectivity and long-distance exchange. In understanding these networks through material remains, ceramic plays a crucial role. From this perspective, Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW), a distinctive ceramic assemblage marked by its fine red fabric, well-burnished lustrous surfaces, and unique forms, is of significant importance in understanding material culture exchange among the major polities of Anatolia, Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt. Despite its vast geographical distribution, the production place of this ware has been the subject of scholarly debate, with differing hypotheses suggesting regions such as Northern Cyprus and Rough Cilicia in Southern Anatolia.
This study aimed to contribute to the debate on the origin of RLW and to enhance our understanding of Late Bronze Age connectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean by employing a multi-analytical approach, integrating petrographic, geochemical (elemental), and isotopic (Sr-Nd) analyses. Archaeometric analysis of RLW ceramic samples (n = 58) from key archaeological sites, including Kilise Tepe, Boğazköy/Ḫattuša, and Tell Atchana/Alalakh in Anatolia, was compared with reference clay samples (n = 84) collected from Cyprus and Southern Anatolia, including the Göksu Valley.
in Sothern Anatolia, particularly those from the Göksu Valley, show strong compositional affinities with the RLW samples, providing convincing evidence to support the hypothesis of a Rough Cilician origin. This archaeometric evidence underlines the Göksu Valley’s pivotal role in Late Bronze Age trade networks in the Eastern Mediterranean. The historical harbor town of Ura, mentioned in textual sources, may have served as a central hub for the trade of RLW, linking Anatolia with Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt.
Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2024
Alter Orient aktuell, 2023
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2023
This paper discusses the results of an archaeometric analysis carried out on undecorated Late Cha... more This paper discusses the results of an archaeometric analysis carried out on undecorated Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina de la Concepción, which is one of the largest and most important Chalcolithic settlements in the southern Iberian Peninsula. The purpose of the study is to contribute to the debate on the socioeconomic organization and exchange networks of the site during the third millennium BCE in the Lower Guadalquivir Basin. Petrographic and chemical analysis by LA-ICP-MS of compressed ultrafine powder pellets were used to analyze selected ceramic samples (n = 42) from Valencina and reference clay samples (n = 62) from different locations in the Aljarafe plateau. This study sheds light on possible raw material sources, the choice strategy of raw materials, and certain aspects of production technologies employed for Late Chalcolithic ceramics found at Valencina de la Concepción. The archaeometric analysis revealed that a significant portion of the ceramics, especially plates and platters manufactured primarily using coarse clays, are largely non-local production. However, there was also a limited availability of local production. This study emphasizes the central role of Valencina in the exchange network of the Lower Guadalquivir Basin during the Late Chalcolithic period. This study further demonstrates the wide variety of clay resources available throughout the Aljarafe region and provides solid reference material for further archaeometric analyses of ancient ceramic materials in this region.
Madrider Mitteilungen, 2022
This study deals with the archaeometric analysis of Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina de ... more This study deals with the archaeometric analysis of Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina de la Concepción, located about 6 km northwest of the city of Seville, in Southwest Spain. The site is considered one of the most important reference sites for the understanding of Chalcolithic societal development in the South of the Iberian Peninsula. Forty ceramic samples of different typologies, and 61 natural clay samples were examined through petrographic thin-section technique, with the objective of obtaining information regarding the source and the exploitation pattern of the raw materials, as well as their relation to the ware’s typology. The petrographic results indicate the use of different clay resources in the production of Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina. Some of the ceramics that were analysed in this study seem to be produced from clay sources available in the vicinity of the site, while a larger part, mainly composed of plates, seem to be imported, possibly from 15 km South or 30–40 km East and Northeast of Valencia.
KEYWORDS
Chalcolithic, Guadalquivir estuary, ditched enclosures, ceramology, petrographic analysis, thin-section, clay sources
In: F. Manuelli – D. P. Mielke (eds.), Late Bronze Age Painted Pottery Traditions at the Margins of the Hittite State, 2022
During the excavations at Oymaağaç Höyük, the Hittite city of Nerik, a previously unknown group o... more During the excavations at Oymaağaç Höyük, the Hittite city of Nerik, a previously unknown group of Late Bronze Age painted pottery, which obviously existed besides the dominating Hittite pottery, was identified. This newly discovered ceramic group belonged to an independent regional pottery tradition of the Central Black Sea region and it is likely that it can be associated with the so-called Kaška people. Because of its historical importance, archaeometric analyses were carried out to examine the material characteristics of this pottery and to answer questions of its production technique and provenance. For a meaningful evaluation, the archaeometric data of the painted pottery were compared with that of the contemporary Late Bronze Age Hittite pottery from Oymaağaç Höyük. In the course of the archaeometric investigations, chemical analysis, petrographic thin section analysis and Raman spectroscopy were conducted. The results reveal new and important insights with historical significance.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022
The period from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1190 BCE) to the Iron Age (c. 1190-330 BCE) in the e... more The period from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1190 BCE) to the Iron Age (c. 1190-330 BCE) in the eastern Mediterranean is characterized by upheavals in political and socioeconomic structures, accompanied by changes in material culture such as pottery production. Plain Ware is one of the most common pottery types found in Plain Cilicia in southern Anatolia during the Late Bronze and the Iron Ages and displays typological and stylistic variations during these periods. In this work, we examined the Plain Ware from Sirkeli Höyük, one of the key settlements in Plain Cilicia, using petrographic, mineralogical (XRPD), microtextural (SEM-EDX), and chemical analysis (LA-ICP-MS). The main objective is to determine the source of raw materials and to investigate Plain Ware production including clay procurement, clay processing, and firing techniques. Our archaeometric results suggest that the vessels were produced from calcareous clay available in the Ceyhan Plain. We have observed continuity in the methods of Plain Ware production from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age with a minor change in the Iron Age.
Arkeoloji Dergisi, 2021
Bu çalışmanın amacı, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi'ndeki Yukarı Dicle Havzasında ve Kuzey Suriye'deki... more Bu çalışmanın amacı, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi'ndeki Yukarı Dicle Havzasında ve Kuzey Suriye'deki Yukarı Habur Havzasında yapılan arkeolojik araştırmalarda ele geçen Erken Tunç dönemine ait Dark Rimmed Orange Bowl Ware (DROB-ware) mal grubunun, kimyasal ve petrografik analiz yöntemlerini kullanarak üretim yerinin belirlenmesidir. Bu amaçla, her iki bölgeden alınan DROB ware örneklerinin yanında, söz konusu seramiklerin üretiminde kullanılan muhtemel kil kaynak alanlarını tespit edebilmek için, her iki bölgeden çeşitli kil yataklarından örneklerde alınarak kimyasal ve petrografik analizleri yapılmıştır. Arkeometrik analiz sonuçları, DROB ware'in Yukarı Dicle Havzasında, Bismil ve Batman arasında bulunan kil kaynaklarından üretildiğini, Yukarı Habur Havzasındaki höyüklerde bulunan örneklerin, bu bölgeye Yukarı Dicle Havzasından geldiğini göstermektedir.
Alalakh and its Neighbours, 2020
This paper deals with connections between Cyprus and Alalakh in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages i... more This paper deals with connections between Cyprus and Alalakh in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages in terms of different types of evidence (textual, archaeological and archaeometric), as they provide complementary information. These projects and ongoing studies are presented with some preliminary results. Although written documents with reference to Alašia are few in number, they show that people from Alašia were living in Alalakh by at least Level VII. Pottery is the main source of information for this article, because it is plentiful and informative. It is being studied by means of typological, stratigraphical and contextual criteria. In this respect, the initiation, phases and end of connections with Cyprus can be examined accordingly. Moreover, archaeometric analysis (both elemental and mineralogical) have been conducted in order to trace back to the raw material from the finished product. One of the aims of archaeometric analysis is to define the characteristics of clay through instrumental analyses, in addition to archaeological definitions. Another important aim is to contribute to provenance studies with respect to defining the regions in Cyprus from which the clay sources and other materials came.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017
Abstract Sr isotopic analysis was carried out on Early Bronze Age ( c . 2800–2200 BCE) North-Meso... more Abstract Sr isotopic analysis was carried out on Early Bronze Age ( c . 2800–2200 BCE) North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware and clay samples collected from south-eastern Anatolia and north-eastern Syria with a view to determining the provenance of this characteristic ceramic type, in particular of its non-calcareous variant. The non-calcareous and calcareous variants of North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware, which have been defined in previous archaeometric studies, show a clear distinction in their Sr isotopic signatures. The non-calcareous group is characterised by high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios, whereas the calcareous variant has much lower values. The Sr isotopic signature of the non-calcareous group shows similarities with clay samples from the Puturge Massif area in south-east Anatolia. Combining the results of the present study with previous investigations, it is thought that the raw material used for the production of non-calcareous North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware could have been originated from the southern part of the Puturge Massif area. Furthermore, this study proves that Sr isotope analysis is a useful tool for the characterisation and identification of archaeological ceramic provenance.
Archaeometry, 2017
White Slip ware, both White Slip I and II, and Monochrome ware are Middle to Late Bronze Age Cypr... more White Slip ware, both White Slip I and II, and Monochrome ware are Middle to Late Bronze Age Cypriot pottery types found across a large area of the Eastern Mediterranean region. A vast quantity of these wares has also been uncovered in Tell Atchana/ancient Alalakh in Hatay in southern Anatolia. We analysed a total of 56 White Slip (n = 36) and Monochrome potsherds (n = 20) from Tell Atchana using XRF, ICP-MS and petrographic thin-section methods. The main aim of the study was to explore the compositional characteristics of the wares and to determine whether they are local imitations of the Cypriot White Slip and Monochrome wares or represent Cypriot exports to this region. The analytical results proved that White Slip I and II were produced from raw clay of mafic and ultramafic source rocks exposed in the Troodos Massif, available in the Limassol area of southern Cyprus and traded to Tell Atchana. Examples of Monochrome ware excavated in Tell Atchana were also imported to the region, most probably from east/north-east Cyprus. These results demonstrate a close trading connection between Tell Atchana/Alalakh and southern Cyprus during the Middle to Late Bronze Age.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2019
The Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW) is a distinctive Late Bronze Age ware produced from high q... more The Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW) is a distinctive Late Bronze Age ware produced from high quality red clay with an array of particular forms and a polished red surface. It has a wide distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly including central Anatolia, Cilicia, Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt, indicating the important role of the ware in displaying possible cultural, commercial, and political interconnections. Its unique and identical character throughout its distribution area still complicates the identification of its provenance. Therefore, it has been the subject of numerous archaeological and archaeometric studies. In previous archaeological studies, a Cypriot origin for the ware has been proposed and generally accepted. In comparison to archaeological research, Cyprus and/or Anatolia are suggested as the origin of RLW in previous archaeometric studies. However, the latest discoveries from Anatolia suggests that the production place of RLW could be located in Rough Cilicia in southern Anatolia, as new RLW forms have been identified at Kilise Tepe level III (1500-1300 BCE). This study focuses on the newly identified RLW forms of jar and its subgroups excavated at Kilise Tepe, level III (c. 1500-1300 BCE). We report archaeometric results of petrographic, trace element and Sr (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and Nd (143 Nd/ 144 Nd) isotopic analysis of RLW samples, not only from Kilise Tepe in southern Anatolia but also from Boğazköy/Ḫattuša in central Anatolia, and Tell Atchana/Alalakh in the Amuq Plain as comparative material. Archaeometric results suggest that the new RLW forms with their subgroups belong to the main chemical and mineralogical corpus of RLW. These results support the thesis that Kilise Tepe is the site with the largest variety of RLW forms, and also the hypothesis that the origin of RLW might be in Rough Cilicia in southern Anatolia. A few samples from each site were defined as outliers, indicating that there are small amounts of RLW produced from other clays, the sources of which remain unidentified. surface treatment. Its macroscopic features point to the advanced production technique achieved by its producers (Eriksson, 1993). RLW is represented by various forms, including bowls, jars, jugs, bottles, flasks, and arm-shaped vessels (Fig. 3a, see below), among which the most prominent forms are spindle bottle and arm-shaped vessels (Eriksson, 1993). The earliest appearance of this ware is dated to the LC IA:2 (c. 1500 BCE), it being produced during the whole Late Bronze Age period
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Erratum Erratum to "Application of strontium isotope analysis to provenance studies of Early Bron... more Erratum Erratum to "Application of strontium isotope analysis to provenance studies of Early Bronze Age North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware" [
Applied Clay Science, 2017
Clay-rich deposits of the Amuq Valley (Southern Turkey) were investigated using chemical methods ... more Clay-rich deposits of the Amuq Valley (Southern Turkey) were investigated using chemical methods to explore compositional characteristics of the clays within the valley and for distinguish chemical groups that can be used as reference materials in archaeometric studies of the ancient ceramic materials in this region. A total of 63 clay samples were collected from different spots throughout the valley and analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques. Analytical results demonstrated that the clay-rich basin deposits show compositional variation both in stratigraphic and spatial levels. Parent rocks exposed within the catchment area of the basin deposit (transported to the basin through the main drainage systems of the Orontes, Afrin, and Karasu Rivers), seems to be one of the major factors affecting the compositional characteristics of the basin deposits. Four different geochemical reference groups were identified: the Orontes clay group, Afrin clay group, Karasu clay group and Kırıkhan clay group. Established reference groups provide opportunities for a better understanding of the local ceramic production and the exchange pattern within the valley and between the adjacent regions.
Non-calcareous Notlhmesapotamian Metallic Ware is a special ceramic ware type af the Early Bronze... more Non-calcareous Notlhmesapotamian Metallic Ware is a special ceramic ware type af the Early Bronze Age (2gOA_ 23aa BC) found in Noftheastern Syria ancJ Sautheastern Anatalia. 21 selected patsherds from various sites in
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2013
ABSTRACT The present paper reports the chemical and mineralogical composition of a black pigment ... more ABSTRACT The present paper reports the chemical and mineralogical composition of a black pigment material contained in a Syrian Bottle-shaped vessel excavated on an Early Bronze Age grave in Muslumantepe, a site located at the right bank of the Tigris River in Southeastern Anatolia. A combination of different analytical tools like state-of-the-art non-destructive mu-XRD2, mu-XRF and mu-Raman spectroscopy compared to classical powder XRD was used to characterize the content of the bottle. The results attest the presence of a manganese mineral (pyrolusite) most probably used for cosmetic purposes. This is the first evidence, which is scientifically tested, of the earliest use of cosmetics in the Upper Tigris of Southeastern Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age period, c. 2700-2550 bc.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2009
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Author's personal copy Petrographic and geochemical analysis on the provenance of the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze/
Applied Clay Science, 2013
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights
Applied Clay Science, 2013
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports , 2025
The Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean (c. 1600–1200 BCE) was a period characterized by... more The Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean (c. 1600–1200 BCE) was a period characterized by intensive intercultural connectivity and long-distance exchange. In understanding these networks through material remains, ceramic plays a crucial role. From this perspective, Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW), a distinctive ceramic assemblage marked by its fine red fabric, well-burnished lustrous surfaces, and unique forms, is of significant importance in understanding material culture exchange among the major polities of Anatolia, Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt. Despite its vast geographical distribution, the production place of this ware has been the subject of scholarly debate, with differing hypotheses suggesting regions such as Northern Cyprus and Rough Cilicia in Southern Anatolia.
This study aimed to contribute to the debate on the origin of RLW and to enhance our understanding of Late Bronze Age connectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean by employing a multi-analytical approach, integrating petrographic, geochemical (elemental), and isotopic (Sr-Nd) analyses. Archaeometric analysis of RLW ceramic samples (n = 58) from key archaeological sites, including Kilise Tepe, Boğazköy/Ḫattuša, and Tell Atchana/Alalakh in Anatolia, was compared with reference clay samples (n = 84) collected from Cyprus and Southern Anatolia, including the Göksu Valley.
in Sothern Anatolia, particularly those from the Göksu Valley, show strong compositional affinities with the RLW samples, providing convincing evidence to support the hypothesis of a Rough Cilician origin. This archaeometric evidence underlines the Göksu Valley’s pivotal role in Late Bronze Age trade networks in the Eastern Mediterranean. The historical harbor town of Ura, mentioned in textual sources, may have served as a central hub for the trade of RLW, linking Anatolia with Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt.
Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2024
Alter Orient aktuell, 2023
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2023
This paper discusses the results of an archaeometric analysis carried out on undecorated Late Cha... more This paper discusses the results of an archaeometric analysis carried out on undecorated Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina de la Concepción, which is one of the largest and most important Chalcolithic settlements in the southern Iberian Peninsula. The purpose of the study is to contribute to the debate on the socioeconomic organization and exchange networks of the site during the third millennium BCE in the Lower Guadalquivir Basin. Petrographic and chemical analysis by LA-ICP-MS of compressed ultrafine powder pellets were used to analyze selected ceramic samples (n = 42) from Valencina and reference clay samples (n = 62) from different locations in the Aljarafe plateau. This study sheds light on possible raw material sources, the choice strategy of raw materials, and certain aspects of production technologies employed for Late Chalcolithic ceramics found at Valencina de la Concepción. The archaeometric analysis revealed that a significant portion of the ceramics, especially plates and platters manufactured primarily using coarse clays, are largely non-local production. However, there was also a limited availability of local production. This study emphasizes the central role of Valencina in the exchange network of the Lower Guadalquivir Basin during the Late Chalcolithic period. This study further demonstrates the wide variety of clay resources available throughout the Aljarafe region and provides solid reference material for further archaeometric analyses of ancient ceramic materials in this region.
Madrider Mitteilungen, 2022
This study deals with the archaeometric analysis of Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina de ... more This study deals with the archaeometric analysis of Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina de la Concepción, located about 6 km northwest of the city of Seville, in Southwest Spain. The site is considered one of the most important reference sites for the understanding of Chalcolithic societal development in the South of the Iberian Peninsula. Forty ceramic samples of different typologies, and 61 natural clay samples were examined through petrographic thin-section technique, with the objective of obtaining information regarding the source and the exploitation pattern of the raw materials, as well as their relation to the ware’s typology. The petrographic results indicate the use of different clay resources in the production of Late Chalcolithic ceramics from Valencina. Some of the ceramics that were analysed in this study seem to be produced from clay sources available in the vicinity of the site, while a larger part, mainly composed of plates, seem to be imported, possibly from 15 km South or 30–40 km East and Northeast of Valencia.
KEYWORDS
Chalcolithic, Guadalquivir estuary, ditched enclosures, ceramology, petrographic analysis, thin-section, clay sources
In: F. Manuelli – D. P. Mielke (eds.), Late Bronze Age Painted Pottery Traditions at the Margins of the Hittite State, 2022
During the excavations at Oymaağaç Höyük, the Hittite city of Nerik, a previously unknown group o... more During the excavations at Oymaağaç Höyük, the Hittite city of Nerik, a previously unknown group of Late Bronze Age painted pottery, which obviously existed besides the dominating Hittite pottery, was identified. This newly discovered ceramic group belonged to an independent regional pottery tradition of the Central Black Sea region and it is likely that it can be associated with the so-called Kaška people. Because of its historical importance, archaeometric analyses were carried out to examine the material characteristics of this pottery and to answer questions of its production technique and provenance. For a meaningful evaluation, the archaeometric data of the painted pottery were compared with that of the contemporary Late Bronze Age Hittite pottery from Oymaağaç Höyük. In the course of the archaeometric investigations, chemical analysis, petrographic thin section analysis and Raman spectroscopy were conducted. The results reveal new and important insights with historical significance.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022
The period from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1190 BCE) to the Iron Age (c. 1190-330 BCE) in the e... more The period from the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1190 BCE) to the Iron Age (c. 1190-330 BCE) in the eastern Mediterranean is characterized by upheavals in political and socioeconomic structures, accompanied by changes in material culture such as pottery production. Plain Ware is one of the most common pottery types found in Plain Cilicia in southern Anatolia during the Late Bronze and the Iron Ages and displays typological and stylistic variations during these periods. In this work, we examined the Plain Ware from Sirkeli Höyük, one of the key settlements in Plain Cilicia, using petrographic, mineralogical (XRPD), microtextural (SEM-EDX), and chemical analysis (LA-ICP-MS). The main objective is to determine the source of raw materials and to investigate Plain Ware production including clay procurement, clay processing, and firing techniques. Our archaeometric results suggest that the vessels were produced from calcareous clay available in the Ceyhan Plain. We have observed continuity in the methods of Plain Ware production from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age with a minor change in the Iron Age.
Arkeoloji Dergisi, 2021
Bu çalışmanın amacı, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi'ndeki Yukarı Dicle Havzasında ve Kuzey Suriye'deki... more Bu çalışmanın amacı, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesi'ndeki Yukarı Dicle Havzasında ve Kuzey Suriye'deki Yukarı Habur Havzasında yapılan arkeolojik araştırmalarda ele geçen Erken Tunç dönemine ait Dark Rimmed Orange Bowl Ware (DROB-ware) mal grubunun, kimyasal ve petrografik analiz yöntemlerini kullanarak üretim yerinin belirlenmesidir. Bu amaçla, her iki bölgeden alınan DROB ware örneklerinin yanında, söz konusu seramiklerin üretiminde kullanılan muhtemel kil kaynak alanlarını tespit edebilmek için, her iki bölgeden çeşitli kil yataklarından örneklerde alınarak kimyasal ve petrografik analizleri yapılmıştır. Arkeometrik analiz sonuçları, DROB ware'in Yukarı Dicle Havzasında, Bismil ve Batman arasında bulunan kil kaynaklarından üretildiğini, Yukarı Habur Havzasındaki höyüklerde bulunan örneklerin, bu bölgeye Yukarı Dicle Havzasından geldiğini göstermektedir.
Alalakh and its Neighbours, 2020
This paper deals with connections between Cyprus and Alalakh in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages i... more This paper deals with connections between Cyprus and Alalakh in the Middle and Late Bronze Ages in terms of different types of evidence (textual, archaeological and archaeometric), as they provide complementary information. These projects and ongoing studies are presented with some preliminary results. Although written documents with reference to Alašia are few in number, they show that people from Alašia were living in Alalakh by at least Level VII. Pottery is the main source of information for this article, because it is plentiful and informative. It is being studied by means of typological, stratigraphical and contextual criteria. In this respect, the initiation, phases and end of connections with Cyprus can be examined accordingly. Moreover, archaeometric analysis (both elemental and mineralogical) have been conducted in order to trace back to the raw material from the finished product. One of the aims of archaeometric analysis is to define the characteristics of clay through instrumental analyses, in addition to archaeological definitions. Another important aim is to contribute to provenance studies with respect to defining the regions in Cyprus from which the clay sources and other materials came.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017
Abstract Sr isotopic analysis was carried out on Early Bronze Age ( c . 2800–2200 BCE) North-Meso... more Abstract Sr isotopic analysis was carried out on Early Bronze Age ( c . 2800–2200 BCE) North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware and clay samples collected from south-eastern Anatolia and north-eastern Syria with a view to determining the provenance of this characteristic ceramic type, in particular of its non-calcareous variant. The non-calcareous and calcareous variants of North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware, which have been defined in previous archaeometric studies, show a clear distinction in their Sr isotopic signatures. The non-calcareous group is characterised by high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios, whereas the calcareous variant has much lower values. The Sr isotopic signature of the non-calcareous group shows similarities with clay samples from the Puturge Massif area in south-east Anatolia. Combining the results of the present study with previous investigations, it is thought that the raw material used for the production of non-calcareous North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware could have been originated from the southern part of the Puturge Massif area. Furthermore, this study proves that Sr isotope analysis is a useful tool for the characterisation and identification of archaeological ceramic provenance.
Archaeometry, 2017
White Slip ware, both White Slip I and II, and Monochrome ware are Middle to Late Bronze Age Cypr... more White Slip ware, both White Slip I and II, and Monochrome ware are Middle to Late Bronze Age Cypriot pottery types found across a large area of the Eastern Mediterranean region. A vast quantity of these wares has also been uncovered in Tell Atchana/ancient Alalakh in Hatay in southern Anatolia. We analysed a total of 56 White Slip (n = 36) and Monochrome potsherds (n = 20) from Tell Atchana using XRF, ICP-MS and petrographic thin-section methods. The main aim of the study was to explore the compositional characteristics of the wares and to determine whether they are local imitations of the Cypriot White Slip and Monochrome wares or represent Cypriot exports to this region. The analytical results proved that White Slip I and II were produced from raw clay of mafic and ultramafic source rocks exposed in the Troodos Massif, available in the Limassol area of southern Cyprus and traded to Tell Atchana. Examples of Monochrome ware excavated in Tell Atchana were also imported to the region, most probably from east/north-east Cyprus. These results demonstrate a close trading connection between Tell Atchana/Alalakh and southern Cyprus during the Middle to Late Bronze Age.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2019
The Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW) is a distinctive Late Bronze Age ware produced from high q... more The Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW) is a distinctive Late Bronze Age ware produced from high quality red clay with an array of particular forms and a polished red surface. It has a wide distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly including central Anatolia, Cilicia, Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt, indicating the important role of the ware in displaying possible cultural, commercial, and political interconnections. Its unique and identical character throughout its distribution area still complicates the identification of its provenance. Therefore, it has been the subject of numerous archaeological and archaeometric studies. In previous archaeological studies, a Cypriot origin for the ware has been proposed and generally accepted. In comparison to archaeological research, Cyprus and/or Anatolia are suggested as the origin of RLW in previous archaeometric studies. However, the latest discoveries from Anatolia suggests that the production place of RLW could be located in Rough Cilicia in southern Anatolia, as new RLW forms have been identified at Kilise Tepe level III (1500-1300 BCE). This study focuses on the newly identified RLW forms of jar and its subgroups excavated at Kilise Tepe, level III (c. 1500-1300 BCE). We report archaeometric results of petrographic, trace element and Sr (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and Nd (143 Nd/ 144 Nd) isotopic analysis of RLW samples, not only from Kilise Tepe in southern Anatolia but also from Boğazköy/Ḫattuša in central Anatolia, and Tell Atchana/Alalakh in the Amuq Plain as comparative material. Archaeometric results suggest that the new RLW forms with their subgroups belong to the main chemical and mineralogical corpus of RLW. These results support the thesis that Kilise Tepe is the site with the largest variety of RLW forms, and also the hypothesis that the origin of RLW might be in Rough Cilicia in southern Anatolia. A few samples from each site were defined as outliers, indicating that there are small amounts of RLW produced from other clays, the sources of which remain unidentified. surface treatment. Its macroscopic features point to the advanced production technique achieved by its producers (Eriksson, 1993). RLW is represented by various forms, including bowls, jars, jugs, bottles, flasks, and arm-shaped vessels (Fig. 3a, see below), among which the most prominent forms are spindle bottle and arm-shaped vessels (Eriksson, 1993). The earliest appearance of this ware is dated to the LC IA:2 (c. 1500 BCE), it being produced during the whole Late Bronze Age period
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Erratum Erratum to "Application of strontium isotope analysis to provenance studies of Early Bron... more Erratum Erratum to "Application of strontium isotope analysis to provenance studies of Early Bronze Age North-Mesopotamian Metallic Ware" [
Applied Clay Science, 2017
Clay-rich deposits of the Amuq Valley (Southern Turkey) were investigated using chemical methods ... more Clay-rich deposits of the Amuq Valley (Southern Turkey) were investigated using chemical methods to explore compositional characteristics of the clays within the valley and for distinguish chemical groups that can be used as reference materials in archaeometric studies of the ancient ceramic materials in this region. A total of 63 clay samples were collected from different spots throughout the valley and analyzed by X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques. Analytical results demonstrated that the clay-rich basin deposits show compositional variation both in stratigraphic and spatial levels. Parent rocks exposed within the catchment area of the basin deposit (transported to the basin through the main drainage systems of the Orontes, Afrin, and Karasu Rivers), seems to be one of the major factors affecting the compositional characteristics of the basin deposits. Four different geochemical reference groups were identified: the Orontes clay group, Afrin clay group, Karasu clay group and Kırıkhan clay group. Established reference groups provide opportunities for a better understanding of the local ceramic production and the exchange pattern within the valley and between the adjacent regions.
Non-calcareous Notlhmesapotamian Metallic Ware is a special ceramic ware type af the Early Bronze... more Non-calcareous Notlhmesapotamian Metallic Ware is a special ceramic ware type af the Early Bronze Age (2gOA_ 23aa BC) found in Noftheastern Syria ancJ Sautheastern Anatalia. 21 selected patsherds from various sites in
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2013
ABSTRACT The present paper reports the chemical and mineralogical composition of a black pigment ... more ABSTRACT The present paper reports the chemical and mineralogical composition of a black pigment material contained in a Syrian Bottle-shaped vessel excavated on an Early Bronze Age grave in Muslumantepe, a site located at the right bank of the Tigris River in Southeastern Anatolia. A combination of different analytical tools like state-of-the-art non-destructive mu-XRD2, mu-XRF and mu-Raman spectroscopy compared to classical powder XRD was used to characterize the content of the bottle. The results attest the presence of a manganese mineral (pyrolusite) most probably used for cosmetic purposes. This is the first evidence, which is scientifically tested, of the earliest use of cosmetics in the Upper Tigris of Southeastern Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age period, c. 2700-2550 bc.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2009
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Author's personal copy Petrographic and geochemical analysis on the provenance of the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze/
Applied Clay Science, 2013
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights
Applied Clay Science, 2013
This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights
European Meeting on Ancient Ceramics - EMAC , 2019
Sirkeli Höyük is one of the largest settlements in Cilician Plain (modern Ceyhan Plain) located i... more Sirkeli Höyük is one of the largest settlements in Cilician Plain (modern Ceyhan Plain) located in South Anatolia. The site was inhabited from Chalcolithic (ca. 5000 BC) to the Hellenistic period (300 – 100 BC). Bronze and Iron Age layers are the most substantial occupations of the settlement. In addition, the materials play a key role in not only in chronological and historical investigations but also in understanding the cultural relations of Cilicia with Central Anatolia and the neighbouring regions including Cyprus. Among various wares, Plain ware is chosen for this study as it is the most common and characteristic ware of Late Bronze and Iron Ages.
In this paper we will report results of archaeometric analysis carried out on Plain (n=50) and Drab ware (n=10) from Sirkeli Höyük as well as local clay samples collected from the Ceyhan Plain. The aim is to identify the possible clay sources of the ware and to explore its production technologies throughout Bronze and Iron Ages to examine continuations and/or discontinuations in these aspects. To this end, we used LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Couple Plasma Mass Spectroscopy) for elemental analysis, Petrography, XRD (X-ray diffraction) and (SEM) Scanning Electron Microscope techniques for identification of mineralogical composition and textural analysis of the samples. As a result, this paper reports about the identified possible clay sources and production technologies of Plain Ware together with the variations occurring due to chronological, geographical and geological factors.
After Iraq and Afghanistan, the current Syrian and Iraqi situation, under the ISIS threat, is ale... more After Iraq and Afghanistan, the current Syrian and Iraqi situation, under the ISIS threat, is alerting again the international academic community. Even so, for too many years, archaeologists used to work only as punctual consultants for NGO's and the main documentation produced consisted on monthly inventory of the damages. Since the lasts tragic events which have torn apart the middle-east, the academic community got involved significantly, and we can now consider a new archaeological discipline focusing on the study of the damages. Satellite, aerial and drone imagery data is now allowing us to go back in time and record the impacts of looting and military occupation over time on archaeological sites. Using these technologies, combined into a Geographic Information System, we will see how practices evolved from scratching the surface to smashing cultural heritage figures within a few decades. This paper also suggests to go further than diachronic monitoring and address a spatial analysis of these damages to identify areas to be excavated in the future. Using analytic tools, we will consider concentration and repartition information to highlight the strong-potential areas for scientific activity. This paper will focus on two regional case studies, firstly with an examination of the thirty years-old damages from the Sharizor plain, next to Halabja, in Iraqi Kurdistan. Then, in the light of the first results we will consider the south section of Syrian Euphrate, in the district of Deir-e-Zor. Within those two regions, focus on preeminent archaeological site will allow to consider in details the implemented methodology.
The Late Bronze Age Cypriot Monochrome ware (MOC ware) was an important commodity of Cypriot comm... more The Late Bronze Age Cypriot Monochrome ware (MOC ware) was an important commodity of Cypriot community, traded to a vast area in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Antike Welt, 2024
Die Geschichte des spätbronzezeitlichen Hethiterreichs wird hauptsächlich durch Tausende von Keil... more Die Geschichte des spätbronzezeitlichen Hethiterreichs wird hauptsächlich durch Tausende von Keilschrifttafeln aus Anatolien und anderen Orten rekonstruiert. Obwohl natur wissenschaftliche Methoden allmählich an Bedeutung gewinnen, bleiben archäometrische Untersuchungen an Keramik eine Ausnahme in der hethitischen Archäologie. Dennoch zeigen einige Beispiele, dass solche Forschungsansätze wichtige historische Fragen klären können.