Arkhaia Anatolika (Mar 2022)
Soli Pompeiopolis Afrika Kırmızı Astarlı Seramikleri / African Red Slip Ware from Soli Pompeiopolis
Abstract
In this paper, I evaluated the African Red Slip ware found in Soli Pompeiopolis, an important port city of the Plain Cilicia Region. African Red Slip Ware is the second common group among the Late Roman pottery from the 1999-2019 excavations of the Colonnaded Street, Necropolis and Soli Mound. These pottery groups were found mainly from the Colonnaded Street. 109 sherds were identified from this group. This rich group of finds leads to a form repertoire consisting of 20 forms. In this study, the form repertoire of the group is generally evaluated depending on the typology of Hayes. One form which isn’t in that typology is evaluated depending on the typology of Mackensen. All of the detected forms are plates, bowls and lids used in food service. If we evaluate the forms in this group according to their function, we can see plates, bowls and lids of different sizes, were preferred instead of the closed vases of the African Red Slip Ware. This pottery repertoire shows us that low-income people preferred these vases. Besides that, the lack of more elaborate barbotine, appliqué or moldmade relief wares provides insight on the life standards of the Soli Pompeiopolis people. These vases which imitated metal vases with both their forms and decorations were produced from the middle of the 1st century AD to the end of the 7th century AD in the workshops of central and north Tunusia in the North Africa. In Soli Pompeiopolis, African Red Slip Ware samples from the 1st century AD to the 4th century AD are few in number. This data shows that the city had a trade relation with the North Africa from the last quarter of the 1st century AD onwards. Quantity and form diversity of African Red Slip Ware in Soli Pompeiopolis began to increase in the 5th century AD. They are most common in the city during the 6th century AD. From the 7th century AD onwards, African Red Slip Ware number in Soli Pompeiopolis was seriously decreased. This situation is probably a negative result of the Arabic Raids of the 7th century AD. The data also shows us the city survived the Arab Raids and continued to use its port.
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