ProjectArchäometrische Untersuchungen zur Produktion und Distribution hethitischer Keramik
Basic data
Title:
Archäometrische Untersuchungen zur Produktion und Distribution hethitischer Keramik
Duration:
01/05/2021 to 30/04/2024
Abstract / short description:
The Hittites empire of the late Bronze Age was one of the major powers in the ancient Near East during the second millennium BC. Questions concerning the economy and economic organization of the Hittites are largely based on historical research. Archaeology has so far received very limited at-tention in exploring these questions. The focus of archaeological research was mainly on important raw materials such as metals; thus, research on Hittite ceramics is an exception.
Investigating the production and distribution of ceramics, which is one of the most common ar-chaeological material groups, offers the possibility of obtaining valuable information on the questions related to the economy and economic history of the Hittite empire in Anatolia. However, many of these questions are inefficiently answered by the available archaeological records and the methods used. This is particularly true for the distribution of ceramics, which is difficult to ascertain by means of archaeology. The only possible way to tackle this problem is through the extensive archaeometric study of Hittite ceramics and local clay samples from the sites using chemical and petrographic-mineralogical methods.
Therefore, the main objective of the proposed project is to establish a solid basis for provenance identification of the Hittite ceramics using chemical and petrographic-mineralogical techniques. To this end, selected ceramic samples from the important Hattie settlements in Cantal Anatolia will be analyzed archaeometrically and archaeologically. The aim is to analyze all the Hittite ceramic types as well as local clay sources available in the vicinity of each site using archaeometric methods. The ex-ploration of the surface geology and application of appropriate analytical methods play a critical role in this. Therefore, a combination of different methods such as LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) will be applied to answer questions of technological characterization, standardiza-tion, and provenance of different Hittite ceramics. Finally, the overall results of the investigation will be interpreted in the archaeological context, particularly in terms of economic history, by taking into account the socio-political relations in Hittite society.
Investigating the production and distribution of ceramics, which is one of the most common ar-chaeological material groups, offers the possibility of obtaining valuable information on the questions related to the economy and economic history of the Hittite empire in Anatolia. However, many of these questions are inefficiently answered by the available archaeological records and the methods used. This is particularly true for the distribution of ceramics, which is difficult to ascertain by means of archaeology. The only possible way to tackle this problem is through the extensive archaeometric study of Hittite ceramics and local clay samples from the sites using chemical and petrographic-mineralogical methods.
Therefore, the main objective of the proposed project is to establish a solid basis for provenance identification of the Hittite ceramics using chemical and petrographic-mineralogical techniques. To this end, selected ceramic samples from the important Hattie settlements in Cantal Anatolia will be analyzed archaeometrically and archaeologically. The aim is to analyze all the Hittite ceramic types as well as local clay sources available in the vicinity of each site using archaeometric methods. The ex-ploration of the surface geology and application of appropriate analytical methods play a critical role in this. Therefore, a combination of different methods such as LA-ICP-MS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) will be applied to answer questions of technological characterization, standardiza-tion, and provenance of different Hittite ceramics. Finally, the overall results of the investigation will be interpreted in the archaeological context, particularly in terms of economic history, by taking into account the socio-political relations in Hittite society.
Keywords:
Produktion und Distribution hethitischer Keramik
Archäometrische Analyse
Herkunftsbestimmung hethitischer Keramikware
Keramik Petrographie
LA-ICP-MS
Involved staff
Managers
Institute of Prehistory and Medieval Archaeology (UFG)
Department of Ancient Studies and Art History, Faculty of Humanities
Department of Ancient Studies and Art History, Faculty of Humanities
Institute of Archaeological Sciences Research Areas (UFG)
Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Science
Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Science
Local organizational units
Institute of Prehistory and Medieval Archaeology (UFG)
Department of Ancient Studies and Art History
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities
Funders
Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany