Ceramic Production during Cultural Dynamics in Eastern Cilicia (15th–8th c. BCE): An Archaeometric Investigation of Continuity, Locality, and Interaction at Sirkeli Höyük

Abstract

This cumulative dissertation examines ceramic production across the Late Bronze–Iron Age transition (end of the 2nd millennium BCE) and into the subsequent Iron Age (1st millennium BCE), with a particular focus on how practices persisted and adapted after the collapse. It applies a multi-analytical archaeometric approach that bridges scientific methods and archaeological questions. The study focuses on the site of Sirkeli Höyük, located in Plain Cilicia along the Ceyhan River, a key region of cultural connectivity between Anatolia, Cyprus, and the Levant. While the collapse of regional powers at the end of the Late Bronze Age and the lack of written sources leave much of the historical development in the region uncertain, pottery provides a continuous line of evidence for reconstructing technological traditions and social practices.

The dissertation addresses central questions concerning the continuity and transformation of ceramic production across the LBA–IA transition and throughout the Iron Age. It also examines the extent of local production versus imports, and the technological organization behind these practices. The research applies an integrated archaeometric approach, which combines petrographic thin section analysis, geochemical characterization via LA-ICP-MS, mineralogical phase analysis through XRPD, and complementary micro-textural SEM analyses. In addition, large-scale clay samples were collected from old alluvial deposits across the Ceyhan Plain, and an experimental briquette was prepared from these clays for the direct comparison of raw materials with archaeological pottery. This combined approach provided the first systematic reference framework for raw material studies in the region.

The research is structured around three published articles: • Paper I analyzes Plain Ware pottery spanning the LBA–IA transition, examining continuity and technological variability. • Paper II establishes geochemical–petrographic reference groups from clay deposits sampled across the Ceyhan Plain, enabling direct comparison with the archaeological sherds and assessing raw-material variability. • Paper III investigates White Painted Ware, a Cypro-Cilician ceramic style of the Iron Age, to determine whether these vessels were imports or locally produced imitations. The results demonstrate that Plain Ware ceramics were consistently produced with local raw materials sourced from the vicinity of Sirkeli Höyük, showing both continuity and some variability in recipes, even after the political collapse of the Late Bronze Age. The clay study confirms the presence of distinct raw material groups in the vicinity of Sirkeli, which align with the composition of the archaeological ceramics and strengthen the argument for local production. White Painted Ware, despite its stylistic and typological links with Cyprus, was predominantly manufactured from the same local clays as Plain Ware, reflecting cultural interaction at the level of form and decoration rather than in technological practice. Overall, the study reveals a strong persistence of local ceramic production throughout the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. Technological continuity is evident across the LBA–IA transition, while cultural adaptations are visible in stylistic choices. This combination underscores the resilience of local communities and their ability to integrate external influences without losing technological autonomy.

Beyond these historical insights, the dissertation contributes methodologically by applying a multi-method archaeometric approach and by establishing a clay reference framework for Cilicia. Together, these advances provide a comprehensive basis for future studies of provenance and technology in the region.

In conclusion, Sirkeli Höyük emerges as a key case study for understanding local production, technological traditions, and cross-cultural interaction in Eastern Cilicia. The findings highlight both continuity and change in ceramic practices, positioning Sirkeli Höyük within broader Eastern Mediterranean exchange networks, while also emphasizing the enduring role of local resources and technological knowledge.

Dissertation ist gesperrt bs 1. Dezember 2027 !