MIDDLE HELLADIC MATT PAINTED POTTERY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MATT PAINTED WARES FROM LİMAN TEPE IN THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE AEGEAN REGION

Yıl 2004, Sayı: 7, 197 - 214, 10.08.2004

Sevinç Günel

Öz

Matt painted pottery, along with Minyan ware, forms an important group of finds in the ceramic development of the Aegean region, especially on Mainland Greece in the Middle Helladic Period. When the history of research on matt painted pottery is taken into consideration, the definition and classification of the ware has been undertaken according to its fabric, its surface treatment and decoration style. Generally, matt painted wares, which are classified under fine and coarse fabric groups, have a reddish-buff, greenish-yellow or cream paste. The surface is usually white or cream slipped and bears red, brown-red or darker painted decoration. The motifs, usually bordered by horizontal or vertical bands and concentrated on the neck or the body, include hatching, zig-zags, triangles and circles. Zig-zags or circles bordered by horizontal lines are frequently found on large-sized vessels like amphorae and pithoi. Cross-hatching, wavy lines, concentric circles and thin lines forming a cross-like pattern surrounded by a circle are also present among decorative motifs. Flecks of "gold-mica", present among the inclusions found in the fabric of matt painted ceramics, have enabled interpretations on the production of this pottery group. The matt painted pottery from the island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf has played an important role in the research in this field. The preponderance of matt painted ceramics from Kolonna on Aegina, as well as the results obtained from clay analyses, concentrated attention on Aegina and even led to interpretations that this island was a centre of production for this group of ceramics. The inclusion of Western Anatolia within the area of distribution of matt painted ceramics in the Aegean is undoubtedly important for demonstrating the extent and development of interregional cultural relationships. The matt painted ceramics from the Middle Bronze Age levels of Liman Tepe (Urla-İzmir), have supplied new data which reflect these relationships. The Middle Bronze Age Levels 3-4 of Liman Tepe, with oval-plan buildings, have yielded matt painted ceramics. The fabric is sandy and of medium quality, varying in colour from yellow and greenish-yellow to pink. The surface of the vessels were slipped in the same colour as the fabric and bears decoration in reddish-brown, brown or purple paint. The motifs faithfully reflect the decoration style of the Middle Helladic matt painted wares. All these characteristics support the view that the matt painted pottery of Liman Tepe can be interpreted as of Aeginetan origin. Final conclusions and interpretation, however, can only be reached when clay analysis is undertaken.

Liman Tepe, with its Minyan and matt painted wares, proves itself to be an important centre in understanding interregional relations of the Aegean world both chronologically and culturally.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Matt painted pottery , Middle Bronze Age , Aegean Region , Liman Tepe

ORTA HELLAS DÖNEMİ MAT BOYALI SERAMİĞİ VE LİMAN TEPE'DE ELE GEÇEN MAT BOYALI SERAMİĞİN EGE ARKEOLOJİSİ KÜLTÜREL GELİŞİMİNDEKİ ÖNEMİ

Öz

Matt painted pottery, along with Minyan ware, forms an important group of finds in the ceramic development of the Aegean region, especially on Mainland Greece in the Middle Helladic Period. When the history of research on matt painted pottery is taken into consideration, the definition and classification of the ware has been undertaken according to its fabric, its surface treatment and decoration style. Generally, matt painted wares, which are classified under fine and coarse fabric groups, have a reddish-buff, greenish-yellow or cream paste. The surface is usually white or cream slipped and bears red, brown-red or darker painted decoration. The motifs, usually bordered by horizontal or vertical bands and concentrated on the neck or the body, include hatching, zig-zags, triangles and circles. Zig-zags or circles bordered by horizontal lines are frequently found on large-sized vessels like amphorae and pithoi. Cross-hatching, wavy lines, concentric circles and thin lines forming a cross-like pattern surrounded by a circle are also present among decorative motifs. Flecks of "gold-mica", present among the inclusions found in the fabric of matt painted ceramics, have enabled interpretations on the production of this pottery group. The matt painted pottery from the island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf has played an important role in the research in this field. The preponderance of matt painted ceramics from Kolonna on Aegina, as well as the results obtained from clay analyses, concentrated attention on Aegina and even led to interpretations that this island was a centre of production for this group of ceramics. The inclusion of Western Anatolia within the area of distribution of matt painted ceramics in the Aegean is undoubtedly important for demonstrating the extent and development of interregional cultural relationships. The matt painted ceramics from the Middle Bronze Age levels of Liman Tepe (Urla-İzmir), have supplied new data which reflect these relationships. The Middle Bronze Age Levels 3-4 of Liman Tepe, with oval-plan buildings, have yielded matt painted ceramics. The fabric is sandy and of medium quality, varying in colour from yellow and greenish-yellow to pink. The surface of the vessels were slipped in the same colour as the fabric and bears decoration in reddish-brown, brown or purple paint. The motifs faithfully reflect the decoration style of the Middle Helladic matt painted wares. All these characteristics support the view that the matt painted pottery of Liman Tepe can be interpreted as of Aeginetan origin. Final conclusions and interpretation, however, can only be reached when clay analysis is undertaken.

Liman Tepe, with its Minyan and matt painted wares, proves itself to be an important centre in understanding interregional relations of the Aegean world both chronologically and culturally.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Mat boyalı seramik , Orta Tunç Çağı , Ege Bölgesi , Liman Tepe

Kaynakça

• AUPERT, P., 1975 "Chronique Des Fouilles et Découvertes Archéologiques en Gréce en 1974", Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 99. 676-678