Özet:

In this study, “Miletus Ware” ceramic finds, having survived in a partially preserved form until today and obtained from the research excavation of the Byzantine cistern (2015) in Izmir Kadifekale (Acropolis of Smyrna) are introduced. Despite a couple of pre-Byzantine and Late Byzantine ceramics 16 pieces of finds were extracted as mixed together mostly with one color glazed, multicolor glazed sgraffito and unglazed Principalities period ceramics. In general terms, it is red colored paste micaceous, with black and white particles, medium hardness and has small pores. The pastes of only two finds are distinguished from the others by their abundant micaceous and soft-medium hardness. All of them are broken and incomplete and belong to open pots with ring bases. In general, they are productions with red micaceous paste, cream-white lining on the inner surface and transparent, colorless glazed, except for one turquoise blue color. The presence of transparent-colorless glaze is observed in two finds on the slipped outer surfaces. There are also finds that have green glaze on the outer surface. In the history of Anatolian ceramics, the new information added to date about this group, which was introduced as “Miletus Ware”, based on the production findings and discoveries in Milet (Aydın) for the first time by F. Sarre in 1935, has both diversified the production sites and expanded distribution areas. Although some common data from all production centers in terms of vessel forms and decoration repertoires make the origin of the finds difficult at first glance, information about slip and paste structures has begun to determine a criteria. In addition to visual evaluations, the archaeometric determinations have been important. In the archeometric research on the production groups of Miletus wares, although the productions of Bergama were covered with a slip made of clay rich in silica additives, the findings of Iznik production have not been localized yet also it was determined that the slips of the Ephesus, Milet, and Sardes samples were no longer clay based, but were mostly made of ground quartz grains, bound together by a glassy phase and a small amount of clay. Archaeometric study on Western Anatolian Miletus ware type ceramics revealed that regardless of the production group, glazes contain less lead, on the other hand it was found alkalis, especially sodium, is rich at an average of 15% by weight. Kadifekale finds were produced in more than one place in important centers and especially in Western Anatolia during the Principalities and Early Ottoman periods in Anatolia and were widely demanded and İzmir was included in the demand centers of Miletus wares. An extensive data analysis based on published finds in order to define the production place and date of the Kadifekale finds, even relatively for now, reveals that they are closer to the Kütahya and Bergama productions in terms of paste, lining and glaze properties. Archaeometric studies are needed on this subject. The finds from the Kadifekale Byzantine Cistern of Miletus wares that have not been found anywhere else in Izmir until now must belong to the middle of the 14th century or the middle of the 15th centuries and they are also important in terms of being the archaeological evidences of the Early-Turkish Principalities Period during the Turkization process of İzmir.

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