AN ARCHAEOMETRIC INVESTIGATION OF EARLY AND MIDDLE BRONZE AGE POTTERY FROM THE UPPER MEANDER BASIN IN SOUTHWESTERN ANATOLIA

Abstract

We present the results of a comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical (archaeometrical) investigation of

ceramics dating to the Early Bronze Age II (2600/2500-2200 BC) and the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BC)

from sites located in the Upper Meander Basin of Denizli province in southwestern Anatolia. We analyzed

the mineralogical and petrographical characteristics of the samples using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical

microscopy, and we examined the chemical compositions with X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). In general, the

primary components of the ceramics include coarse-grained quartz, biotite, muscovite, pyroxene,

plagioclase, and metamorphic rock fragments; we estimate a firing temperature under 800°C. The ceramics

appear to be locally manufactured, given the close relationship between their mineralogical properties and

the local geological structure and topography. Our analysis indicates that people living in the mountainous,

plateau, and lowland areas each preferred different clay deposits in their pottery production. All of these

areas, however, shared similar production technologies.