Brittle Ware Pots from Dara (Anastasiopolis)

Year 2021, Issue: 72, 91 - 117, 05.09.2021

Murat Tosun

https://doi.org/10.14222/Turkiyat4502

Abstract

The ancient city of Dara, located on the southern part of the Tur’ Abdin Mountains in the Upper Mesopotamia Region, provides very important information with the researches made in recent years. Thanks to the excavations carried out in Dara so far, it has been understood that many Brittle Ware ceramics, which are thought to be specific to the Levant and Syria Regions, are also very intense in the Upper Mesopotamia Region. Ceramics, called Brittle Ware or Gevrek Mallar in Turkish, were produced for the purpose of liquid cookings. Intense forms such as bowl, pot, stewpot and pan are seen; However, there are a few examples such as pitcher and jug. Generally thin-walled, fragile; However, these heat-resistant ceramics vary in color depending on the well-fired and fired status. The examples with different typological and additive features found in the VIth century A.D. layers in Dara reveal that the studies up to date should be reviewEd. 15 different forms were identified in 42 studied Brittle Ware pots in Dara. These ceramics are generally dated to a small number of the Late Hellenistic-Early Roman Period, and a large number to the Eastern Roman Empire Period. Especially in Dara, with both coin findings and carbon results, many Brittle Ware samples are also very important in terms of being able to give a clear date like the VIth century A.D.

Keywords

Dara (Anastasiopolis), Upper Mesopotamia, Levant-Syria, Hellenistic-Roman-Eastern Roman Empire Period, Brittle Ware, Pot

Dara’dan (Anastasiopolis) Brittle Ware Çömlekler

Abstract

Öz
Yukarı Mezopotamya Bölgesi’nde Tur’ Abdin Dağları’nın güney eteğinde yer alan Dara Antik kenti son yıllarda yapılan araştırmalar ile oldukça önemli bilgiler sağlamaktadır. Dara’da şu ana kadar yapılan kazı çalışmaları sayesinde çok sayıda Levant ve Suriye Bölgeleri’ne özgü olduğu düşünülen Brittle Ware seramiklerin Yukarı Mezopotamya Bölgesi’nde de oldukça yoğun olduğu anlaşılmıştır. Brittle Ware ya da Türkçe karşılığı Gevrek Mallar olarak adlandırılabilecek seramikler, kullanım amacı daha çok sıvı yemekleri pişirmek amaçlı üretilmişlerdir. Yoğun olarak çanak, çömlek, tencere, tava gibi formları görülür; ancak az sayıda sürahi, testi gibi örnekleri de mevcuttur. Genel olarak ince cidarlı, kırılgan; fakat ısıya dayanıklı olan bu seramikler, iyi pişmiş ve pişme durumuna göre renkleri değişkenlik göstermektedir. Dara’da MS VI. yüzyıl tabakalarında ele geçen farklı tipolojik ve katkı maddesi özellikli örnekler, bugüne kadar ki çalışmaların yeniden gözden geçirilmesi gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Dara’da 42 adet çalışılmış Brittle Ware çömleklerinde 15 farklı form tespit edilmiştir. Bu seramikler, genel olarak az sayıda Geç Hellenistik-Erken Roma Dönemi’ne, çok sayıda ise Doğu Roma İmparatorluk Dönemi’ne tarihlenmektedir. Özellikle Dara’da hem sikke bulguları hem de karbon sonuçları ile çok sayıda Brittle Ware örneği, MS VI. yüzyıl gibi net bir tarihe verilebilmesi bakımından da oldukça önemlidir.

Keywords

Dara (Anastasiopolis), Yukarı Mezopotamya, Levant-Suriye, Hellenistik-Roma-Doğu Roma İmparatorluk Dönemi, Brittle Ware, Çömlek

References

• Alp, A.O. (2009). “A Group of Late Roman Pottery from Harabebezikan Mound in Upper Euphrates (Turkey)”. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 9/1, 201-216.
• Amodio, M. (2007). “La Classe di Ceramica da Cucina Brittle Ware Rinvenuta a Tell Barri (Siria)”. Topoi. Orient-Occident. Supplément, 8, 231-248.
• Amodio, M. (2008). “La Brittle Ware da Tell Barri”. Tell Barri: Storia di un Insediamento Antico Tra Oriente e Occidente, 63. (Ed. R.P. Benoit) Naples-Macchiaroli: La parola del passato. 322-336.
• Bartl, K. (1999-2000). “Tell Sheikh Hassan. Funde aus Römischpartischer, Spätrömisch-Frühbyzantinischer und Islamischer Zeit”. Archiv für Orientforschung, 46-47, 447-489.
• Bartl, K., Schneider, G. ve Böhme, S. (1995). “Notes on ‘Brittle Wares’ in North-Eastern Syria”. Levant, XXVII-1, 165-177.
• Campbell, B. (1989). “The Roman Pottery from Sheh Qubba, North Iraq, in the Eastern Frontier of the Roman Empire”. Proceedings of a Colloquium Held at Ankara in September 1988.
• (Ed. D. French ve C. Lightfoot) Oxford: British Institute of Archaeology at Ankara. 53-65.
• Daszkiewicz, M., Krogulska, M. ve Bobryk, E. (2000). “Composition and Technology of Roman Brittle Ware Pottery from A Kiln Site in Palmyra (Syria)”. Rei Cretariae Romanae Fautorum Acta, 36, 537-548.
• Dorna-Metzger, F. (1996). “Hellenistic and Parthian-Roman Pottery from the Upper Khabur Survey: A Preliminary Study”. Continuity and Change in Northern Mesopotamia from the Hellenistic to the Early Islamic Period: Proceedings of a Colloquium Held at the Seminar für Vorderasiatische Altertumskunde, Freie Universität Berlin, 6th–9th April 1994. (Ed. K. Bartl ve S.R. Hauser) Berlin: Berliner Beiträge zum Vorderen Orient 17. 363-375.
• Dyson, S.L. (1968). Excavations at Dura-Europos, Final Report IV, 1, 3, The Commonware Pottery, The Brittle Ware. New Haven: Cambridge University Press.
• Gavagnin, K., Iamoni, M. ve Palermo, R. (2016). “The Land of Nineveh Archaeological Project: The Ceramic Repertoire from the Early Pottery Neolithic to the Sasanian Period”. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 375, 119-169.
• Genequand, D., Hull, D. ve Studer, J. (2007). “Rapport Préliminaire des Travaux de la Mission Archéologique Syro-Suisse À Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi en 2006”. SLSA Jahresbericht, 2006, 123-156.
• Genequand, D., Ali, R., Haldemann, M. ve Studer, J. (2010). “Rapport Préliminaire des Campagnes 2008 et 2009 de la Mission Archéologique Syro-Suisse de Qasr al-Hayr al-Sharqi”. SLSA Jahresbericht, 2009, 177-219.
• Gschwind, M. (2006). “Roman Pottery from Zeugma: Continuity, Change and the Central Euphrates Perspective”. International Symposium on Zeugma: From Past to Future. (Ed. R. Ergeç) Gaziantep: Gaziantep Büyükşehir Belediyesi. 55-69.
• Harper, R. (1980). “Athis-Neocaesareia-Qasrin-Dibsi Faraj”. Le Moyen-Euphrate, Zone de Contacts et d’échanges, Actes du Colloque de Strasbourg 10-12 march 1977. (Ed. J.C. Margueron) Leiden: Brill. 327-348.
• Johnson, B.L. (1988). “The Pottery”. Excavations at Jalame. Site of A Glass Factory in Late Roman Palestine. (Ed. G.D. Weinburg) Columbia: University of Missouri Press. 137-226.
• Keser-Kayaalp, E. ve Erdoğan, N. (2017). “Recent Research on Dara/Anastasiopolis”. New Cities in Late Antiquity: Documents and Archaeology (Bibliotheque de L'Antiquite Tardive), 35. (Ed. E. Rizos) Brepols: Brepols Pblishers. 153-175.
• Konrad, M. (1992). “Flavische und Spätantike Bebauung Unter der Basilika B von Resafa-Sergiupolis”. Damaszener Mitteilungen, 6, 313-402.
• Martz, A.S. (2007). “Les Vases À Cuire de Zeugma du IIIe au VIIe Siècle”. Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean, Archaeology and Archaeometry 2 (LRCW 2). (Ed. M. Bonifay ve J.C. Tréglia) Oxford: BAR International Series 1662. 739-744.
• Oates, D. ve Oates, J. (1959). “Ain Sinu: A Roman Frontier Post in Northern Iraq”. Iraq, 21, 207-236.
• Oates, D. (1968). Studies in the Ancient History of Northern Iraq. London: Oxford University Press.
• Orssaud, D. (1980). “La Céramique”. içinde: “Déhès (Syrie du Nord), Campagnes I-III (1976-1978)”. Syria, 57, 234-266.
• Orssaud, D. (1991). “La Céramique”. içinde: Halabiyya-Zenobia, Place Forte du Limes Oriental et la Haute-Mésopotamie au VIe Siècle 2. (Ed. J. Lauffray) Paris: Librairie Orientaliste Paul Geuthner. 260-275.
• Ökse, A.T., Erdoğan, N., Görmüş, A., Atay, E., Çetinkaya, İ., Güneş, A., Atay, Y., Levent, H., Eroğlu, M., Torpil, S., Güneş, Z., Yücel, A., Turan, M., Altun, S., Akan, H., Akkaş, V., Erdaş, Y., Öncü, V.G., Öncü, A., Bayraktar, A.A., Boz, M. ve Görmez, A. (2018). Ilısu Barajı İnşaat Sahası Kurtarma Kazıları III: Roma İmparatorluk Dönemi ve Orta-Yakın Çağ Yerleşmeleri / Salvage Excavations in The Construction Area of The Ilısu Dam III: Roman Empire Period and Middle-New Ages Sites. (Ed. A.T. Ökse ve N. Erdoğan) Mardin: mardinsesi yayıncılık.
• Özyar, A., Pancaroğlu, O., Ünlü, E. ve Vokaer, A. (2017a). “Tarsus Gözlükule Kazılarında Ele Geçen Erken İslami Dönem Buluntuları Hakkında Bazı Gözlemler”. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı, 38/2, 467-484.
• Özyar, A., Pancaroğlu, O., Ünlü, E. ve Vokaer, A. (2017b). “Recent Fieldwork at Tarsus-Gözlükule: The Medieval Levels”. The Archaeology of Anatolia 2: Recent Discoveries (2015-2016). (Ed. S.R. Steadman ve G. McMahon) Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 197-226.
• Reynolds, P. (2005). “Levantine Amphorae from Cilicia to Gaza: A Typology and Analysis of Regional Productions Trends from the 1st to the 7th Centuries”. Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean: Archaeology and Archaeometry 1 (LRCW 1). (Ed. J. Gurt i Esparraguera vd.) Oxford: BAR International Series 1340. 563-611.
• Reynolds, P. (2013). “Transport Amphorae of the 1st to 7th Centuries: Early Roman to Byzantine Periods”. Zeugma 2000: Rescue Excavations II. (Ed. W. Aylward) Los Altos/California: The Packard Humanities Institute. 93-161, Pls. 43-74.
• Reynolds, P. (2014). “The Homs Survey: Contrasting Levantine Trends in the Regional Supply of Fine Wares, Amphorae and Kitchen Wares (Hellenistic to Early Arab Periods)”. Roman Pottery in the Levant: Local Production and Regional Trade. Round Table, Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, (19–20th February 2010), Roman and Late Antique Mediterranean Pottery 3. (Ed. B. Fischer-Genz vd.) Oxford: Archaeopress. 53-65.
• Reynolds, P. ve Waksman, S.Y. (2007). “Beirut Cooking Wares, 2nd to 7th Centuries: Local Forms and North Palestinian Imports”. Berytus, 50, 59-81.
• Römer-Strehl, C. (2005). “Untersuchungen zur Keramik der Seleukidischen und Partischrömischen Zeit vom Tall Seh Hamad”. Magdalu/Magdala Tall Šeh Hamad von der Postassyrischen Zeit bis zur Römischen Kaiserzeit. (Ed. H. Kühne) Berlin: Dietrich Reimer Verlag, 2.1/2. 197-312.
• Schneider, G., Vokaer, A., Bartl, K. ve Daszkiewicz, M. (2007). “Some New Results of Archaeometric Analysis of Brittle Wares”. Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry 2 (LRCW 2). (Ed. M. Bonifay ve J.C. Tréglia) Oxford: BAR International Series 1662. 715-730.
• Strothenke, E. (2016). Einfache Gebrauchswaren und Kochtopfwaren vom Dülük Baba Tepesi von der Römischen bis in die Islamische Zeit. Asia Minor Studien 80. Bonn: Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH.
• Thalmann, J.P. (1978). “Tell Arqa (Liban Nord). Campagnes I–III (1972–1974)”. Syria, 55, 1-151.
• Tosun, M. (2018). “Kuruluş, Yükseliş ve Çöküşü ile Roma’nın Mezopotamya’daki Son Varlık Göstergesi: Dara (Anastasiopolis-Iustiniana Nova)”. Amisos, 3/5, 455-480.
• Tosun, M. (2020). Dara (Anastasiopolis) Roma ve Geç Antik Dönem (Parth-Sasani) Seramikleri. (Yayımlanmamış Doktora Tezi), İstanbul: Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü.
• Vela, H.N. ve Piéri, D. (2013). “Faciès Céramiques de la Syrie du Nord Protobyzantine”. Topoi. Orient-Occident. Supplément, 12, 111-147.
• Viviers, D. ve Vokaer, A. (2007). “Travaux de la Mission Archeologique Belge À Apamee de Syrie. XLe Campagne (2006)”. Revue Belge de Philologiee et d'histoire, 85, 93-124, Pls. I-XIV.
• Viviers, D. ve Vokaer, A. (2009). “Travaux de la Mission Archéologique Belge À Apamée de Syrie. XLIIe Campagne (2008)”, Revue Belge de Philologiee et d'histoire, 87, 105-144.
• Vokaer, A. (2005). “Typological and Technological Study of Brittle Ware in Syria”. Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean, Archaeology and Archaeometry 1 (LRCW 1). (Ed. J.M. Gurt i Esparraguera vd.) Oxford: BAR International Series 1340. 697-709.
• Vokaer, A. (2007). “La Brittle Ware Byzantine et Omeyyade en Syrie du Nord”. Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean. Archaeology and Archaeometry 2 (LRCW 2). (Ed. M. Bonifay ve J.C. Tréglia) Oxford: BAR International Series 1662. 701-714.
• Vokaer, A. (2010a). “Cooking Wares An Ancient Syria (First to 10th Centuries AD): Reconstructing the Production Contexts from the Consumption Sites”. Archaeometry, 52/4, 605-627.
• Vokaer, A. (2010b). “Cooking in A Perfect Pot. Shapes, Fabric and Function of Cooking Ware in Late Antique Syria”. Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean, Archaeology and Archaeometry. Comparison between Western and Eastern Mediterranean 3 (LRCW 3). (Ed. S. Menchelli vd.) Oxford: BAR International Series 2185 (I). 115-129.
• Vokaer, A. (2010-2011). “Byzantine Cooking Ware Imports in Syria: The ‘Workshop X’”. Berytus, 53-54, 213-232.
• Vokaer, A. (2011). La Brittle Ware en Syrie. Production et Diffusion d’une Céramique Culinaire de L’époque Hellénistique À L’époque Omeyyade, Memoires de la Classe des Lettres Fouilles d’Apamee 2. Brussels: Académie Royale de Belgique.
• Vokaer, A. (2013a). “Pottery Production and Exchange in Late Antique
• Syria (Fourth-Eight Century A.D.). A Studt of Some Imported and Local Wares”. Local Economies? Production and Exchange of Inland Regions in Late Antiquity (Late Antique Archaeology 10). (Ed. L. Lavan) Leiden: Koninklijke Brill NV. 567-606.
• Vokaer, A. (2013b). “Continuity and Changes in Ceramic Production and Exchange in Syria, between the End of the Byzantine and the Beginning of the Early Islamic Periods (6th-9th Century CE)”. Proceedings of the International Symposium Byzantium and the Arab World: Encounter of Civilizations (Thessaloniki, 16-18 December 2011). (Ed. A. Kralidis ve A. Gkoutzioukostas) Thessaloniki: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. 483-510.
• Waksman, S.Y., Reynolds, P., Bien, S. ve Tréglia, J.C. (2005). “A Major Production of Late Roman ‘Levantine’ and Cypriot Common Wares”. Late Roman Coarse Wares, Cooking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean, Archaeology and Archaeometry 1 (LRCW 1). (Ed. J.M. Gurt i Esparraguera vd.) Oxford: BAR International Series 1340. 311-325.
• Wightman, G. (1990). “Area B, Sounding in the Middle City”. Tell Ahmar: 1988 Season. (Ed. G. Bunnens) Leiden: University of Melbourne. 106-119.