Archaeometric Studies on Bricks from the Stratonikeia Ancient City in Caria

Authors : Ayşegül Elibol Tüfekçi, Barış Semiz, Inci Türkoğlu, Gürcan Elçi

Pages : 125-139

Doi:10.51493/egearkeoloji.1414593

View : 86 | Download : 96

Publication Date : 2024-10-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The ancient city of Stratonikeia is located within the territory of Eskihisar Neighbourhood in Yatağan District of Muğla Province. Excavations have been undertaken at the site since 1977. Settlement at the site of the ancient city is understood to go back to the second millennium BCE. At the site it is possible to see structures from a wide time span ranging from Classical Period through the twentieth century. Within the scope of the present study, a total of 25 samples were taken from seven structures within the ancient city of Stratonikeia. This study aims to cast light onto the archaeometric characters of the brick samples, to retrieve information on their production technologies, obtain data regarding their firing temperatures and their production sites as local or imports. The samples were investigated using stereomicroscope, optical microscope, color analysis, XRF, XRD, statistical and SEM-EDS methods. Various analyses led to compatible results and the brick samples were categorized into three main groups and one subgroup. It was noted that most of the samples were fired at 750-850oC and all of them were produced with clay taken from similar clay deposits.
Keywords : Stratonikeia Stratonicea, Karia, Antik Tuğlalar, Geç Antik Çağ, Arkeometri