Byzantine glazed pottery from Thrace

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the Byzantine glazed pottery finds that were found in Tekirdağ and Mount Ganos. The survey was carried out in this area under the direction of Professor Zeynep Koçel Erdem, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Department of Archaeology. Many different cultures were identified during the survey, and important groups of ceramics were found in different districts, especially in the Şarköy district of Tekirdağ. The majority of the Byzantine glazed pottery finds recovered during the survey belong to the group identified as 'Zeuxippus ware'. This group was unearthed for the first time near the Baths of Zeuxippus, Istanbul. After that, many ceramics were uncovered in different settlements in Anatolia and beyond. They had some similarities to and differences from this group, and they were generally named Zeuxippus family ware. The finds from the survey included a fragment of incised sgrafitto, painted sgrafitto, two fragments of slip painted pottery and a few fragments of glazed white ware. In addition, a clay tripod attracted the attention. It is not possible to assume pottery production in this region by using this one piece as evidence. However, the possibility should not be overlooked.