Books by Ülkü Kara
Hareketliliğin Doğası: Antikçağdan Günümüze İnsanlar, Fikirler ve Nesnelerin Dolaşımı, 2023
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2019-2020 YILI KAZI ÇALIŞMALARI, 2022
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Parion’dan Amphora ve Lagynos Mühürleri, Graffito ve Dipinto Yazıtlar, 2021
Ülkü Kara - İsmail Akkaş
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Many archaeological objects were uncovered in the excavations at the Altınpark Archaeological Sit... more Many archaeological objects were uncovered in the excavations at the Altınpark Archaeological Site, situated on the Roman Road reaching the southern city gate of ancient Smyrna, dating from the beginning of the Hellenistic period in which Smyrna was founded at Kadifekale and its slopes, to the Late Byzantine Period. Although they are few, stamped unguentaria have taken attention among these objects. The six stamped unguentaria dating to the 6th and 7th centuries A.D. indicate the period when social and economic lives in this area came to an end with the arrival of the Muslims to this area located outside the settled area of the ancient city.
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İSTANBUL KÜÇÜKÇEKMECE GÖL HAVZASI KAZILARI - EXCAVATIONS OF KÜÇÜKÇEKMECE LAKE BASIN (BATHONEA), 2017
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Ege Yayınları, 2019
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Papers by Ülkü Kara
Olba, May 1, 2020
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DergiPark (Istanbul University), Jan 10, 2023
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Arkeoloji dergisi, Nov 7, 2021
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Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), May 31, 2023
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TÜBA - AR, Oct 19, 2021
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Arkeoloji ve Sanat Dergisi , 2022
A GLAZED TILE FRAGMENT WITH DIPINTO FROM NEAR ISTANBUL
(in Turkish)
Glazed tiles, commonly used i... more A GLAZED TILE FRAGMENT WITH DIPINTO FROM NEAR ISTANBUL
(in Turkish)
Glazed tiles, commonly used in structures of Byzantium in Istanbul, had been started to produce in the c.10th c. AD and remained roughly for two hundred years. These tiles were produced in a similar technique to the polychrome vessels; both of them were made of white/light pink fabric and polychrome decoration. Among tiles, there have been examples that had been used as frames besides figurative icons and column covering.
The frame tiles are mostly oblong, about c.10 cm wide, and they are of varying heights. The exterior surface is ornamental and both flat (in section) and convex (or partly convex) examples are known. These tiles were placed side by side to form a frame on the wall. The inner side of the tiles served as a wall-mounted surface, while the exterior surface was
a decorated frame. Until recently, examples of the glazed tiles have been found in significant Byzantine structures and some excavations in Istanbul; the monastery of Lips (Fenari İsa Camii), monastery of the St. John Studios (İmrahor Camii), the Zeuxippus Baths, the church of the Myrelaion (Bodrum Camii), the church of the Kyriotissa, etc. Apart from these, some examples of the tiles were also revealed in Bithynia, Bulgaria, Chersonesos, and Cordoba. A fragment of the tiles has also been discovered in the Küçükçekmece Göl Havzası Bathonea Archaeological Excavations, located on the western bank of Küçükçekmece Lake on the European side of Istanbul. A short dipinto inscription on the inner surface of this example is the main subject of the present study.
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OLBA, 2023
A Stamp on the Type of the Zeest 80 Amphora from the British Museum
(in Turkish)
The type of Zee... more A Stamp on the Type of the Zeest 80 Amphora from the British Museum
(in Turkish)
The type of Zeest 80 amphora, commonly unearthed in the settlements of the Roman Imperial Period and Late Antiquity and garrisons on the Danube coast, differs majorly from the contemporary ones with important differences. While these are mostly morphological features, the function of the settlements where the amphorae were found is indicating another distinctive characteristic. The relationship between Zeest 80 amphora, detected in settlements of a significant military population/ character (limes) and the supply system of the Roman Empire (annona militaris) has recently attracted academic interest. Also, the increasing number of the fragments of this type of amphora found in Constantinople and its surroundings with present studies can designate that the type of the amphora may have been utilized as a member of the supply system (annona civicia) of the capital city. The stamps and inscriptions on this type of amphorae are also a major part of such interest as well. The previously documented stamps have been predominantly found in Constantinople and its surroundings and exceptionally in the coastal regions of southern Marmara and Bulgaria. A stamp that was not included in the previous works on the stamps and was not defined as amphora/the type of the Zeest 80 has been situated in the British Museum since 1874. The previous researches reveal that the Zeest 80 amphorae bearing stamps are known rarely, however, the stamps are various compared to their quantity. Besides, it is possible to say that this type of stamp is quite a few. It is evident that the stamp had been five times applied on the neck to form a cross. In the scene on the stamp, Archangel Michael is depicted standing and holding a cruciform elongated scepter in his left hand. Behind the wings, there is an inscription and in the other direction, there is a block monogram. In the present study, this stamp is to be examined chronologically, iconographically, and epigraphically and it is to be detailed within the scope of the groups of the classification and die of the Zeest amphorae stamps.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/olba/issue/76269/1269100
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Seleucia, 2023
A Group of Pottery with Graffiti and Stamps from Constantinople’s Territorium
(in Turkish)
Küçükç... more A Group of Pottery with Graffiti and Stamps from Constantinople’s Territorium
(in Turkish)
Küçükçekmece Lake Basin (Bathonea?) excavations on the bank of Küçükçekmece Lake in the Avcılar district of Istanbul have revealed that the bank of the lake bears a settlement having layers dated to the Ancient (Bathonea?), Late Antique (Rhegion?), Byzantine (Rhegion), and Ottoman periods. The connection between the above-mentioned district in the hinterland of Constantinople and the capital has been proved through findings. The remains of a building with a religious theme identified as a “Basilical Planned Structure” have been discovered in the settlement which was not a lagoon lake in the Late Antique period on which the excavations predominantly focus. The settlement was connected to the sea and it did have at least two harbours at that period. The boundaries of the structure, which translates into an enormous architecture, have not yet been revealed, however, some spaces of it have been partially unearthed. Although the function and construction date of the building have only been partially clarified so far, it has been thought that it was a health center and/or it had an ecclesiastical functioning in the 6th – 7th c.AD. A group of inscribed and stamped pottery has been found in what is offered to be the narthex space of the building. In this study; four stamped unguentaria, two pithoi fragments, one stamped and the other with a graffito, a concave lid with a graff ito, and a sgraffito ware with monogram are to be examined.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/3186330
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Septem Artes, 2023
Precautions for Detection and Protection of Inscriptions on Ceramics: Evaluation on Examples from... more Precautions for Detection and Protection of Inscriptions on Ceramics: Evaluation on Examples from Late Antiquity and Byzantine Period)
(in Turkish)
Along with pottery, other ceramic objects were produced and used for various purposes in antiquity. Almost all of these pottery and object groups are known to bear inscriptions on them. These inscriptions might indicate their functions or the objects may serve as writing materials in the secondary context. The pottery and objects that served as writing materials are defined as “ostraca” (sg. ostracon). The inscriptions regarding the functions of the vessels/objects are also among the most frequently encountered groups of inscribed finds during the excavations. Decorations and inscriptions can be seen only on the exterior surface of intact vessels, whereas on both the interior and exterior surfaces of objects, open-shaped vessels, or broken vessel fragments. Storage, transportation, ceremonial or kitchen/service vessels, architectural object pieces, tiles, bricks, water pipes, bases, unguentaria, pithoi, amphorae etc., form the groups bearing the highest number of inscriptions. There are inscriptions on the surface of the vessels, consisting of more than one line or a single letter. Motifs accompanying the inscriptions, as well as decorations without inscriptions, can be seen almost everywhere on the vessel or ceramic object. These inscriptions can be graffito (incised inscriptions) or dipinto (painted/inky inscriptions) or they can also be observed within the stamps. Graffiti on ceramic objects and vessels can be divided into two main groups ante-cocturam (before firing) and post-cocturam (after firing) inscriptions. Dipinti are mostly in dark red, sometimes black, and rarely in other colours. The identification and preservation process of these inscriptions, from discovery to documentation, from conservation to storage, requires a relatively more careful approach than other artefacts. The main subject of the present study covers the conservation methods and phases which lead these inscriptions into the archaeological literature. In this process, the condition of the arte- facts and the inscriptions, as well as the technique in which the inscription was written, play a crucial role. Due to the organic ink/paint used to paint the dipinti, these inscriptions rarely have survived to the present day. Moreover, the surviving examples need rapid intervention to prevent them from being erased or destroyed. In the case of graffiti, the degree of abrasion of the surface and the phase inscription was written on (before or after firing) should be considered. The diligent work of archaeologists taking part in the field and laboratory and conservators to whom the artefacts are entrusted is crucial for preserving the inscriptions. When an intact vessel or shard/shards is recovered, the parts and fragments (depending on the function of the inscription) that may bear inscriptions should be simply examined. The conditions of the find spots of ceramics are crucial for the first precautions to be taken and the preservation of the ceramics. The exam- ples recovered from densely calcareous soils may be covered with a calcareous layer, while those from the sea may be covered with shells. The first practice to determine the presence of inscriptions is mechanical cleaning. Besides, epigraphical, or unepigraphic stamps can also be counted among the finds requiring a cautious approach and preservation considering the condition of the surface they imprinted on. Although rare, in some examples, the inscriptions or stamps can be applied to the surfaces formed by other materials on potteries. Puzzolana and puzzolana-like mortars, clay, and resin might be highlighted as examples of these surfaces. In addition, there is able to be some problems that come up during preservation and conservation. The chronological scope of this study covers the Late Antiquity and the Byzantine Period.
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Türkiye Bilimler Akademisi Arkeoloji Dergisi, 2021
The study focuses on the consumption characteristics of the Late Roman – Early Byzantine Period o... more The study focuses on the consumption characteristics of the Late Roman – Early Byzantine Period of Küçükçekmece Lake Basin Excavation (Bathonea?) based on an assessment on the amphorae, which is deemed as pivotal proofs of the economic structure of the trade/circulation and the region in and after the antique period. The detailed examination of the amphorae types provides essential information on the daily life of the settlement in question based on the analysis of which product they carry, where they set off, and how long they have been in use. An assessment on trade/supply of the region has been conducted through co-inspection of the position of the stamp and various inscriptions on the amphorae of the period. The trade/consumption link between region and the Constantinople may be deemed clear based on evidence available. During the excavations on the site, the most discovered types of amphorae are Cilicia (LRA 1) and mostly Aegean (LRA 2) ones. Also, some diverse amphorae types from East Mediterranean, North African, and Pontic regions have been discovered.
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Arkeoloji Dergisi , 2021
Transport/Displacement of products is an essential element of the tax in-kind (annona civicia and... more Transport/Displacement of products is an essential element of the tax in-kind (annona civicia and annona militaris) and distribution practice which is deemed to be conducted in the economy during the Eastern Roman Empire Period, as approved by a majority of researchers today. Amphoras used in the transport process of products collected as tax to the overseas or distant locations stand as essential in the period between the provision/production of the vessels and the date of arrival to the location in proper condition. Inscriptions and stamps on the amphoras represent it along with the form. It may be suggested that the abovementioned inscriptions and stamps reflecting the economic, religious, and language properties of the period, may also have some features serving the annona system. This paper examines the four amphorae types (LRA 1, LRA 2, LRA 3, and Zeest 80) common in the Mediterranean Region which are deemed to be produced/used for purposes of annona organization in the Late Roman - Early Byzantine periods (4th-7th c. AD) with a specific focus on the inscriptions and stamps and inspects their position, if any, in the annona system.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/egearkeoloji/issue/65598/840265
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OLBA XXVIII, 2020
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TINA, 2016
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Thesis Chapters by Ülkü Kara
Ph.D. Dissertation, 2019
Over the last two decades, the Late Roman - Early Byzantine amphorae from Eastern Mediterranean h... more Over the last two decades, the Late Roman - Early Byzantine amphorae from Eastern Mediterranean have been one of the most interesting topics for researchers, and results of new researches are emerging day by day. In particularly, studies on understanding the production and usage of the Late Roman - Early Byzantine amphorae, which cover a period of approximately three to four hundred years, have increased considerably in recent years. Through these studies, more detailed data have been obtained from the whole of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. However, it is seen that the studies on the inscriptions and seals on the amphorae can not reach to a level of the ones on the Western Mediterranean amphorae. The inscriptions and seals on the amphorae of the Eastern Roman Imperial period are constituted the main subjects of the thesis.
The main focus of the thesis is on the four major mass-production amphora types from the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly based in Asia Minor, which are essential economically and commercially in the Eastern Roman Empire: LRA 1, LRA 2, LRA 3 ve Zeest 80. Primarily, a corpus has been composed to analyze both in terms of inscription (for inscriptions and seals) tradition and amphora typology.
In the second part of the thesis research, the position and importance of the data obtained from the first part, has been evaluated in the economic and commercial conditions of the period. Accordingly, in the light of these amphora types, inscriptions and seals in the corpus; annona civicia and annona militaris system, which had been known to have existed in the Roman Imperial Period, were examined on specific to the Eastern Roman Empire. This study is based on the amphora typologies and findspot of examples, as well as the meanings, contents, and representing of the inscriptions and seals.
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Books by Ülkü Kara
Papers by Ülkü Kara
(in Turkish)
Glazed tiles, commonly used in structures of Byzantium in Istanbul, had been started to produce in the c.10th c. AD and remained roughly for two hundred years. These tiles were produced in a similar technique to the polychrome vessels; both of them were made of white/light pink fabric and polychrome decoration. Among tiles, there have been examples that had been used as frames besides figurative icons and column covering.
The frame tiles are mostly oblong, about c.10 cm wide, and they are of varying heights. The exterior surface is ornamental and both flat (in section) and convex (or partly convex) examples are known. These tiles were placed side by side to form a frame on the wall. The inner side of the tiles served as a wall-mounted surface, while the exterior surface was
a decorated frame. Until recently, examples of the glazed tiles have been found in significant Byzantine structures and some excavations in Istanbul; the monastery of Lips (Fenari İsa Camii), monastery of the St. John Studios (İmrahor Camii), the Zeuxippus Baths, the church of the Myrelaion (Bodrum Camii), the church of the Kyriotissa, etc. Apart from these, some examples of the tiles were also revealed in Bithynia, Bulgaria, Chersonesos, and Cordoba. A fragment of the tiles has also been discovered in the Küçükçekmece Göl Havzası Bathonea Archaeological Excavations, located on the western bank of Küçükçekmece Lake on the European side of Istanbul. A short dipinto inscription on the inner surface of this example is the main subject of the present study.
(in Turkish)
The type of Zeest 80 amphora, commonly unearthed in the settlements of the Roman Imperial Period and Late Antiquity and garrisons on the Danube coast, differs majorly from the contemporary ones with important differences. While these are mostly morphological features, the function of the settlements where the amphorae were found is indicating another distinctive characteristic. The relationship between Zeest 80 amphora, detected in settlements of a significant military population/ character (limes) and the supply system of the Roman Empire (annona militaris) has recently attracted academic interest. Also, the increasing number of the fragments of this type of amphora found in Constantinople and its surroundings with present studies can designate that the type of the amphora may have been utilized as a member of the supply system (annona civicia) of the capital city. The stamps and inscriptions on this type of amphorae are also a major part of such interest as well. The previously documented stamps have been predominantly found in Constantinople and its surroundings and exceptionally in the coastal regions of southern Marmara and Bulgaria. A stamp that was not included in the previous works on the stamps and was not defined as amphora/the type of the Zeest 80 has been situated in the British Museum since 1874. The previous researches reveal that the Zeest 80 amphorae bearing stamps are known rarely, however, the stamps are various compared to their quantity. Besides, it is possible to say that this type of stamp is quite a few. It is evident that the stamp had been five times applied on the neck to form a cross. In the scene on the stamp, Archangel Michael is depicted standing and holding a cruciform elongated scepter in his left hand. Behind the wings, there is an inscription and in the other direction, there is a block monogram. In the present study, this stamp is to be examined chronologically, iconographically, and epigraphically and it is to be detailed within the scope of the groups of the classification and die of the Zeest amphorae stamps.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/olba/issue/76269/1269100
(in Turkish)
Küçükçekmece Lake Basin (Bathonea?) excavations on the bank of Küçükçekmece Lake in the Avcılar district of Istanbul have revealed that the bank of the lake bears a settlement having layers dated to the Ancient (Bathonea?), Late Antique (Rhegion?), Byzantine (Rhegion), and Ottoman periods. The connection between the above-mentioned district in the hinterland of Constantinople and the capital has been proved through findings. The remains of a building with a religious theme identified as a “Basilical Planned Structure” have been discovered in the settlement which was not a lagoon lake in the Late Antique period on which the excavations predominantly focus. The settlement was connected to the sea and it did have at least two harbours at that period. The boundaries of the structure, which translates into an enormous architecture, have not yet been revealed, however, some spaces of it have been partially unearthed. Although the function and construction date of the building have only been partially clarified so far, it has been thought that it was a health center and/or it had an ecclesiastical functioning in the 6th – 7th c.AD. A group of inscribed and stamped pottery has been found in what is offered to be the narthex space of the building. In this study; four stamped unguentaria, two pithoi fragments, one stamped and the other with a graffito, a concave lid with a graff ito, and a sgraffito ware with monogram are to be examined.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/3186330
(in Turkish)
Along with pottery, other ceramic objects were produced and used for various purposes in antiquity. Almost all of these pottery and object groups are known to bear inscriptions on them. These inscriptions might indicate their functions or the objects may serve as writing materials in the secondary context. The pottery and objects that served as writing materials are defined as “ostraca” (sg. ostracon). The inscriptions regarding the functions of the vessels/objects are also among the most frequently encountered groups of inscribed finds during the excavations. Decorations and inscriptions can be seen only on the exterior surface of intact vessels, whereas on both the interior and exterior surfaces of objects, open-shaped vessels, or broken vessel fragments. Storage, transportation, ceremonial or kitchen/service vessels, architectural object pieces, tiles, bricks, water pipes, bases, unguentaria, pithoi, amphorae etc., form the groups bearing the highest number of inscriptions. There are inscriptions on the surface of the vessels, consisting of more than one line or a single letter. Motifs accompanying the inscriptions, as well as decorations without inscriptions, can be seen almost everywhere on the vessel or ceramic object. These inscriptions can be graffito (incised inscriptions) or dipinto (painted/inky inscriptions) or they can also be observed within the stamps. Graffiti on ceramic objects and vessels can be divided into two main groups ante-cocturam (before firing) and post-cocturam (after firing) inscriptions. Dipinti are mostly in dark red, sometimes black, and rarely in other colours. The identification and preservation process of these inscriptions, from discovery to documentation, from conservation to storage, requires a relatively more careful approach than other artefacts. The main subject of the present study covers the conservation methods and phases which lead these inscriptions into the archaeological literature. In this process, the condition of the arte- facts and the inscriptions, as well as the technique in which the inscription was written, play a crucial role. Due to the organic ink/paint used to paint the dipinti, these inscriptions rarely have survived to the present day. Moreover, the surviving examples need rapid intervention to prevent them from being erased or destroyed. In the case of graffiti, the degree of abrasion of the surface and the phase inscription was written on (before or after firing) should be considered. The diligent work of archaeologists taking part in the field and laboratory and conservators to whom the artefacts are entrusted is crucial for preserving the inscriptions. When an intact vessel or shard/shards is recovered, the parts and fragments (depending on the function of the inscription) that may bear inscriptions should be simply examined. The conditions of the find spots of ceramics are crucial for the first precautions to be taken and the preservation of the ceramics. The exam- ples recovered from densely calcareous soils may be covered with a calcareous layer, while those from the sea may be covered with shells. The first practice to determine the presence of inscriptions is mechanical cleaning. Besides, epigraphical, or unepigraphic stamps can also be counted among the finds requiring a cautious approach and preservation considering the condition of the surface they imprinted on. Although rare, in some examples, the inscriptions or stamps can be applied to the surfaces formed by other materials on potteries. Puzzolana and puzzolana-like mortars, clay, and resin might be highlighted as examples of these surfaces. In addition, there is able to be some problems that come up during preservation and conservation. The chronological scope of this study covers the Late Antiquity and the Byzantine Period.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/egearkeoloji/issue/65598/840265
Thesis Chapters by Ülkü Kara
The main focus of the thesis is on the four major mass-production amphora types from the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly based in Asia Minor, which are essential economically and commercially in the Eastern Roman Empire: LRA 1, LRA 2, LRA 3 ve Zeest 80. Primarily, a corpus has been composed to analyze both in terms of inscription (for inscriptions and seals) tradition and amphora typology.
In the second part of the thesis research, the position and importance of the data obtained from the first part, has been evaluated in the economic and commercial conditions of the period. Accordingly, in the light of these amphora types, inscriptions and seals in the corpus; annona civicia and annona militaris system, which had been known to have existed in the Roman Imperial Period, were examined on specific to the Eastern Roman Empire. This study is based on the amphora typologies and findspot of examples, as well as the meanings, contents, and representing of the inscriptions and seals.
(in Turkish)
Glazed tiles, commonly used in structures of Byzantium in Istanbul, had been started to produce in the c.10th c. AD and remained roughly for two hundred years. These tiles were produced in a similar technique to the polychrome vessels; both of them were made of white/light pink fabric and polychrome decoration. Among tiles, there have been examples that had been used as frames besides figurative icons and column covering.
The frame tiles are mostly oblong, about c.10 cm wide, and they are of varying heights. The exterior surface is ornamental and both flat (in section) and convex (or partly convex) examples are known. These tiles were placed side by side to form a frame on the wall. The inner side of the tiles served as a wall-mounted surface, while the exterior surface was
a decorated frame. Until recently, examples of the glazed tiles have been found in significant Byzantine structures and some excavations in Istanbul; the monastery of Lips (Fenari İsa Camii), monastery of the St. John Studios (İmrahor Camii), the Zeuxippus Baths, the church of the Myrelaion (Bodrum Camii), the church of the Kyriotissa, etc. Apart from these, some examples of the tiles were also revealed in Bithynia, Bulgaria, Chersonesos, and Cordoba. A fragment of the tiles has also been discovered in the Küçükçekmece Göl Havzası Bathonea Archaeological Excavations, located on the western bank of Küçükçekmece Lake on the European side of Istanbul. A short dipinto inscription on the inner surface of this example is the main subject of the present study.
(in Turkish)
The type of Zeest 80 amphora, commonly unearthed in the settlements of the Roman Imperial Period and Late Antiquity and garrisons on the Danube coast, differs majorly from the contemporary ones with important differences. While these are mostly morphological features, the function of the settlements where the amphorae were found is indicating another distinctive characteristic. The relationship between Zeest 80 amphora, detected in settlements of a significant military population/ character (limes) and the supply system of the Roman Empire (annona militaris) has recently attracted academic interest. Also, the increasing number of the fragments of this type of amphora found in Constantinople and its surroundings with present studies can designate that the type of the amphora may have been utilized as a member of the supply system (annona civicia) of the capital city. The stamps and inscriptions on this type of amphorae are also a major part of such interest as well. The previously documented stamps have been predominantly found in Constantinople and its surroundings and exceptionally in the coastal regions of southern Marmara and Bulgaria. A stamp that was not included in the previous works on the stamps and was not defined as amphora/the type of the Zeest 80 has been situated in the British Museum since 1874. The previous researches reveal that the Zeest 80 amphorae bearing stamps are known rarely, however, the stamps are various compared to their quantity. Besides, it is possible to say that this type of stamp is quite a few. It is evident that the stamp had been five times applied on the neck to form a cross. In the scene on the stamp, Archangel Michael is depicted standing and holding a cruciform elongated scepter in his left hand. Behind the wings, there is an inscription and in the other direction, there is a block monogram. In the present study, this stamp is to be examined chronologically, iconographically, and epigraphically and it is to be detailed within the scope of the groups of the classification and die of the Zeest amphorae stamps.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/olba/issue/76269/1269100
(in Turkish)
Küçükçekmece Lake Basin (Bathonea?) excavations on the bank of Küçükçekmece Lake in the Avcılar district of Istanbul have revealed that the bank of the lake bears a settlement having layers dated to the Ancient (Bathonea?), Late Antique (Rhegion?), Byzantine (Rhegion), and Ottoman periods. The connection between the above-mentioned district in the hinterland of Constantinople and the capital has been proved through findings. The remains of a building with a religious theme identified as a “Basilical Planned Structure” have been discovered in the settlement which was not a lagoon lake in the Late Antique period on which the excavations predominantly focus. The settlement was connected to the sea and it did have at least two harbours at that period. The boundaries of the structure, which translates into an enormous architecture, have not yet been revealed, however, some spaces of it have been partially unearthed. Although the function and construction date of the building have only been partially clarified so far, it has been thought that it was a health center and/or it had an ecclesiastical functioning in the 6th – 7th c.AD. A group of inscribed and stamped pottery has been found in what is offered to be the narthex space of the building. In this study; four stamped unguentaria, two pithoi fragments, one stamped and the other with a graffito, a concave lid with a graff ito, and a sgraffito ware with monogram are to be examined.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/3186330
(in Turkish)
Along with pottery, other ceramic objects were produced and used for various purposes in antiquity. Almost all of these pottery and object groups are known to bear inscriptions on them. These inscriptions might indicate their functions or the objects may serve as writing materials in the secondary context. The pottery and objects that served as writing materials are defined as “ostraca” (sg. ostracon). The inscriptions regarding the functions of the vessels/objects are also among the most frequently encountered groups of inscribed finds during the excavations. Decorations and inscriptions can be seen only on the exterior surface of intact vessels, whereas on both the interior and exterior surfaces of objects, open-shaped vessels, or broken vessel fragments. Storage, transportation, ceremonial or kitchen/service vessels, architectural object pieces, tiles, bricks, water pipes, bases, unguentaria, pithoi, amphorae etc., form the groups bearing the highest number of inscriptions. There are inscriptions on the surface of the vessels, consisting of more than one line or a single letter. Motifs accompanying the inscriptions, as well as decorations without inscriptions, can be seen almost everywhere on the vessel or ceramic object. These inscriptions can be graffito (incised inscriptions) or dipinto (painted/inky inscriptions) or they can also be observed within the stamps. Graffiti on ceramic objects and vessels can be divided into two main groups ante-cocturam (before firing) and post-cocturam (after firing) inscriptions. Dipinti are mostly in dark red, sometimes black, and rarely in other colours. The identification and preservation process of these inscriptions, from discovery to documentation, from conservation to storage, requires a relatively more careful approach than other artefacts. The main subject of the present study covers the conservation methods and phases which lead these inscriptions into the archaeological literature. In this process, the condition of the arte- facts and the inscriptions, as well as the technique in which the inscription was written, play a crucial role. Due to the organic ink/paint used to paint the dipinti, these inscriptions rarely have survived to the present day. Moreover, the surviving examples need rapid intervention to prevent them from being erased or destroyed. In the case of graffiti, the degree of abrasion of the surface and the phase inscription was written on (before or after firing) should be considered. The diligent work of archaeologists taking part in the field and laboratory and conservators to whom the artefacts are entrusted is crucial for preserving the inscriptions. When an intact vessel or shard/shards is recovered, the parts and fragments (depending on the function of the inscription) that may bear inscriptions should be simply examined. The conditions of the find spots of ceramics are crucial for the first precautions to be taken and the preservation of the ceramics. The exam- ples recovered from densely calcareous soils may be covered with a calcareous layer, while those from the sea may be covered with shells. The first practice to determine the presence of inscriptions is mechanical cleaning. Besides, epigraphical, or unepigraphic stamps can also be counted among the finds requiring a cautious approach and preservation considering the condition of the surface they imprinted on. Although rare, in some examples, the inscriptions or stamps can be applied to the surfaces formed by other materials on potteries. Puzzolana and puzzolana-like mortars, clay, and resin might be highlighted as examples of these surfaces. In addition, there is able to be some problems that come up during preservation and conservation. The chronological scope of this study covers the Late Antiquity and the Byzantine Period.
https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/egearkeoloji/issue/65598/840265
The main focus of the thesis is on the four major mass-production amphora types from the Eastern Mediterranean, mainly based in Asia Minor, which are essential economically and commercially in the Eastern Roman Empire: LRA 1, LRA 2, LRA 3 ve Zeest 80. Primarily, a corpus has been composed to analyze both in terms of inscription (for inscriptions and seals) tradition and amphora typology.
In the second part of the thesis research, the position and importance of the data obtained from the first part, has been evaluated in the economic and commercial conditions of the period. Accordingly, in the light of these amphora types, inscriptions and seals in the corpus; annona civicia and annona militaris system, which had been known to have existed in the Roman Imperial Period, were examined on specific to the Eastern Roman Empire. This study is based on the amphora typologies and findspot of examples, as well as the meanings, contents, and representing of the inscriptions and seals.