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Journals / Anadolu Araştırmaları / 2025 / Issue: 33

Archaeological and Archaeometric Evaluation of Hellenistic-Roman Ceramics from Northeastern Anatolia (Türkiye)

Elif Yavuz Çakmur(KARADENIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-5826-0444
Korkmaz Meral(ATATURK UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-4301-3437
Cüneyt Şen(KARADENIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-2873-073X
Tülay Bak(KARADENIZ TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-8845-3877
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-03-13
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The compositional patterns suggest regional differentiation between Erzurum–Pasinler and Bayburt–Demirözü, suggesting that geological setting and raw-material variability contributed to the distinct technological choices in ceramic production.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The Hellenistic and Roman periods represent influential phases in the ancient world’s cultural, political, and artistic history.
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Key Findings & Data:Although archaeological evidence from these periods is distributed across the ancient world’s vast geography, it is largely concentrated in certain regions of Anatolia due to a combination of environmental, historical, and research-related factors.
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Conclusion & Impact:The compositional patterns suggest regional differentiation between Erzurum–Pasinler and Bayburt–Demirözü, suggesting that geological setting and raw-material variability contributed to the distinct technological choices in ceramic production.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Northeastern Anatolia · Ceramic Typology · Archaeometry

Abstract

The Hellenistic and Roman periods represent influential phases in the ancient world’s cultural, political, and artistic history. Although archaeological evidence from these periods is distributed across the ancient world’s vast geography, it is largely concentrated in certain regions of Anatolia due to a combination of environmental, historical, and research-related factors. The scarcity of such finds—especially ceramics—persisted until recently in the northeastern part of Anatolia (including Erzurum, Erzincan, Kars, Bayburt, and Gümüşhane). This situation had long been interpreted as a lack of Hellenistic and Roman presence in the region. However, recent research has shown that the number of finds from these periods in Northeastern Anatolia is greater than that previously assumed. Hellenistic and Roman finds in the region have generally been interpreted on an individual basis. This study, a continuation of previous research, aims to shed light on the Hellenistic and Roman periods in the region through a comprehensive evaluation of ceramic finds from four centers in Northeastern Anatolia. In this context, four sites within the region that yielded ceramic finds have been examined. These sites include the Sos, Alaybeyi, and Tasmasor mounds, which are located within the borders of Erzurum Province, and the Büyüktepe mound, which is situated in Bayburt. The forms and material components of the ceramics have been investigated through both comparative studies with nearby regional examples and archaeometric analyses. Forty ceramic samples were analyzed using pXRF. Sos Höyük and Tasmasor ceramics show uniform volcanic–marly compositions, while the Büyüktepe samples display carbonate-rich chemistry linked to the Demirözü Basin. In the Tasmasor samples, the quartz–albite dominance and the absence of mullite or cristobalite patterns of XRD indicate firing at 800°C–900°C; one Tasmasor sample retains illite/muscovite, suggesting slightly lower firing or incomplete mica breakdown. The compositional patterns suggest regional differentiation between Erzurum–Pasinler and Bayburt–Demirözü, suggesting that geological setting and raw-material variability contributed to the distinct technological choices in ceramic production.

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Cite This Article

Çakmur, E. Y., Meral, K., Şen, C., Bak, T. (2026). Archaeological and Archaeometric Evaluation of Hellenistic-Roman Ceramics from Northeastern Anatolia (Türkiye). Anadolu Araştırmaları, Issue: 33. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.331685860

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