The Byzantine Glassmaking In The Way Of The Finds Of The Excavations At Kadıkalesi
Project no. 962 · Status: Kapanmış · 2017
Summary
Kadıkalesi excavations have been conducted by Prof. Dr. Zeynep Mercangöz since 2001. The content of hereby study is glassware unearthed between 2001 and 2016 through for Byzantine glassware in new datas. Our objective is to classify glass from Kadıkalesi in terms of form and function, as well as to make certain predictions with respect to glassware production and trade in the castle, apart from their dates. The present thesis aims at classifying the glassware unearthed in course of Kadıkalesi excavations between 2001 and 2016, in order to establish a typology and to reveal data regarding glass production. Accordingly, 264 glassware finds were incorporated in our catalogue, and assorted. lamps and window glass for illumination; goblets, glasses, bottles and vessels for daily use; bracelets and beads as jewellery, and glassware for commercial purposes constitute the content. From 2001 to 2016, Kadıkalesi excavations brought 4591 window glasses, 3786 oil lamps, 1667 beakers, 833 Anaia bottles, 471 bottles, 132 vessel fragments, 258 goblets, 1508 bracelets and 3 glass beads into daylight. Besides, several necks and bases were obtained; nevertheless, as their associated vessel form is unknown, such fragments were only itemised in numbers and recorded without any classification. In this context, 319 fragments with profiles and 2103 without profiles were observed during abovementioned period. Frits, slag, defective pieces and probable pot fragments prove the richness of glass findings. Moreover, there are clues about glass trade in the castle, particularly thanks to thick walled bottles, which may have been used in wine trade or as vessel for perfumes and medicines in Anaia, a coastal town of the day. Recently studies of glass finds obtained from excavation at Kadıkalesi explain the daily life of Byzantium as well as the trade of glass in Middle Age. The affluence of color and form on the glass finds in the Medieval is very important besides the glass finds are at second place in numbers among the other finds and they are hard to complement. Keywords: Byzantine, Glass, Byzantine Glass, Medieval Glass.