TYPES OF POTTERY IN THE CERAMIC FINDS OF THE NIKSAR FORTRESS EXCAVATION IN 2021 Cover Image

2021 YILI NİKSAR KALESİ KAZISI SERAMİK BULUNTULARINDA KAP TİPLERİ
TYPES OF POTTERY IN THE CERAMIC FINDS OF THE NIKSAR FORTRESS EXCAVATION IN 2021

Author(s): Davut Yiğitpaşa, Turgay Yazar, Şuayip Çelemoğlu, Bilge Bahar
Subject(s): Archaeology, Cultural history, 6th to 12th Centuries, 13th to 14th Centuries, The Ottoman Empire
Published by: Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi - Karadeniz Araştırmaları Enstitüsü
Keywords: Black Sea; Tokat; Niksar; Fortress; Danishmends; Seljuks; Ottoman Empire;

Summary/Abstract: This study evaluated 655 ceramic kinds and types (form) found in the Niksar Castle 2021 excavation. The earliest examples of ceramics identified belong to the Hellenistic period, and the late examples belong to the last years of the Ottoman period. Most of the ceramics belong to the 11-14th century range, while the 81 examples introduced in total have typical medieval ware features. The ceramics spread over a broad period, with six main vessel types determined: Plates, bowls, pots, pottery, jugs and sphero-conical vessels. Pots are the numerically richest group in numbers, with 323 samples and their subtypes. Pottery ranks second with 143 samples, while pedestals rank third with 126 samples, jugs fourth with 31, caps fifth with 16, bowls sixth with 14 samples. Spherical-conical-bodied vessels rank last, with two samples making less than 1%. All of the ceramics were wheel-produced and constitute two main groups in terms of construction and decoration techniques: Glazed and unglazed, with glazed and unlined samples in both groups. In terms of paste, line, additives, baking degree, form, surface treatments, glaze and decoration features, the Niksar Castle finds show common features with other centers, and local production differences are not significant. The ceramics come from the building area in front of the eastern wall of the inner castle. The 2021 excavations could not yet reach the ground level of the buildings. This part shows the characteristics of the rubble of carelessly built walls, which were subsequently added to the main structure in the form of mortar or drywall, and that of a mixed structure including waste material that does not allow stratigraphy. The ceramics evaluated were daily used and came from areas in the trenches KIV-c5, KIV-d5, KIV-e5, KV-a5, KV-a5, LIV-d1, LIV-e1, LV-a1 and LV-b1; we could not define the functions of these trenches at the moment. Except for the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the ceramics are similar in terms of technology, form and decoration.

  • Issue Year: 8/2022
  • Issue No: 14
  • Page Range: 25-56
  • Page Count: 32
  • Language: Turkish