Skip to navigation – Site map

HomeNumérosXXIIHellenistic and Roman Period Cera...

Hellenistic and Roman Period Ceramic Finds from the Balatlar Church Excavations in Sinop between 2010-2012

Eda Güngör Alper
p. 35-49

Full text

  • 1 Drews 1976: 18.31.

1The ancient city of Sinop which was located in Paphlagonia during the Roman and Byzantine periods, is situated in the middle of the Anatolian Black Sea coast. The peninsula sheltering the city is the most northerly point of Anatolia and extends North-eastward (Fig. 1). Thanks to its localization, this area has always been an important port. History of Sinop and its environment goes back to Bronze Age. Ancient sources mention that Sinop was re-founded as a Greek colony of the city of Miletus in the middle of the 7th century B.C.1, a chronology that is confirmed by the finds from the archaeological surveys and excavations.

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Black Sea basin and location of Sinop.

  • 2 Sinop Tarihi ve Kültür Envanteri 2013: 64.
  • 3 Köroğlu 2011: 65-76; 2012: 313-324.

2Besides the remains of the great city-walls2, Balatlar Church is the only building from the Roman Period in Sinop whose function could be determined. The excavations conducted by Prof. Gülgün Köroğlu since 2010 at the Balatlar Church have revealed a group of buildings that were used as a church and a graveyard from Byzantine to Ottoman periods, after being used as a bath-palaestra first3.

3The first stage of the complex includes a Bath and Palaestra and is dated to Roman Imperial Period (Fig. 2-3), although the bath seems to have earlier foundation, around the 2nd century B.C. Archaeological surveys conducted in the surroundings revealed that the complex covered a vast area. The caldarium (hot section), tepidarium (warm section), apoditerium (changing room), and palaestra (playfield) of the Bath are still preserved today.

4The Hellenistic and Roman period ceramic groups retrieved from the excavations at the Balatlar Church in Sinop are fairly diverse. Although only three excavation seasons have been completed, the volume of early period information about the site continues to grow. The finds unfortunately do not provide a clear stratigraphical context, mainly because of the continuous occupation of the bath. Area I and II functioned as Eastern church, in the northeast of the cross shaped building, in the Seljuk and Ottoman Empire, between the 13th and 15th centuries (Fig. 2). The remains of the caldarium and the hall in the North became a cemetery that was used until the beginning of the 20th century (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

Plan of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).

Fig. 3

Fig. 3

View of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).

5Because Sinop is an important port city, this region was always in contact with Greek and Black Sea coasts. Therefore, Hellenistic and Roman ceramics from Balatlar Church can be compared with Greek and other ancient cities that are located on the Black Sea coast.

Hellenistic Period Pottery Finds

6The Hellenistic period is very well represented, from the very beginning of the period until the Roman times. The finds consist of some of the most common shapes: bowls with incurved rim, bowls with outturned rim, mould-made bowls, fish plates, kantharoi and clay lamps.

Bowls with incurved rim (Pl. 1: 1-4)

  • 4 Histria samples: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5 and p. 42, 87, 90, 117; Athens Agora sample (...)

7The bowls show two different shapes. The first type, bowls with incurved rim, can be dated to the 4th century B.C. until the early 3rd century B.C.4, although this type of bowls are known to have been used throughout the Hellenistic period. Forthcoming excavations may reveal that this shape is spread over a wider time range. As they are from the early Hellenistic period, their slips are of high quality. Some variations can be noticed in the color of the slip, principally due to differences in firing the vessels.

1.SBK.2011.555

Rim Diam. : 16 cm. H : 2.3 cm.
Clay : 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper : Calcite.
Surface : inner and outer surface slip 7.5 Y 2.5/0 Black.
Similar : Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003 : Fig. 5, 42, pp. 87, 90, 117 ; Rotroff 1997 : Fig. 62, 966, p. 338. Date : Late 4th century B.C.

Pl. 1: 1

2.SBK.2011.602

Rim Diam.: 15.8 cm. h: 4 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/8 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer 5 YR 7/6 Slip
on top of reddish yellow surface 10 R 5/8 Red.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 62, 980, p. 339; Zolotarev 2005: Fig. 4, 8, p. 196-197.
Date: ca. 300 B.C.

Pl. 1: 2

3.SBK.2011.486

Rim Diam.: 9 cm. h: 2.1 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip
2.5 Y 2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, 42, p. 87, 90, 117; Rotroff 1997: Fig. 62, 976, p. 339.
Date: Early 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 3

4.SBK.2012.197

Rim Diam.: 15 cm. h: 3.7 cm.
Clay: 2.5 Y 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 Y
2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 63, 1000.
Date: 290-275 B.C.

Pl. 1: 4

Bowls with outturned rim (Pl. 1: 5-10)

  • 5 Panskoye samples: Kašaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218, p. 159; Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52, (...)
  • 6 Kašaev 2002: 159.

8Bowls with outturned rims are of a lesser quality than the previous type of bowls. They usually have a thin slip layer made of watered down clay. Black slip was used in several samples (Pl. 1: 7-8). This shape is dated to the early to middle Hellenistic period5. In the Panskoye samples, it is mentioned that similar shapes could be identified as mortar and they are thought to be the produced in Sinop6.

5.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 23.6 cm. h: 3.4 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 8/6 Pink.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface thin slip 7.5 YR 8/6 Pink.
Similar: Kasaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218.
Date: 4th-3rd centuries B.C.

Pl. 1: 5

6.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 21 cm. h: 3.4 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand and Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface thi
n slip 7.5 YR 7/4 Pembe.
Similar: Kasaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218.
Date: 4th-3rd centuries B.C.

Pl. 1: 6

7.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 23.4 cm. h: 3.8 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer s
urface slip 7.5 YR 7/4 Black.
Similar: Kasaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218.
Date: 4th-3rd centuries B.C.

Pl. 1: 7

8.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: 15.2 cm. h: 3.7 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface s
lip 5 Y 2.5/1 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 59, 866, p. 329.
Date: 325-300 B.C.

Pl. 1: 8

9.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 13 cm. h: 3.3 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface thi
n slip 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52, 740, p. 318; Zajcev 2005: Fig. 4, 33, p. 269.
Date: 2nd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 9

10.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 20 cm. h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/8 Pink.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface thin s
lip 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52, 740, p. 318; Zajcev 2005: Fig. 4, 33, p. 269.
Date: 2nd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 10

Mould-made bowls (Pl. 1: 11)

  • 7 Olbia samples: Bilde 2010: Pl. 170, F 12, p. 277.

9Mould-made bowls, used throughout the Hellenistic period, have many different decorations and are hemispherical in shape. A small number of such finds were uncovered over the three-year excavation period in Sinop. These bowls are found in small numbers in other centers of the Black Sea. However it is widely used and produced in western Anatolia and the Mediterranean basin. The 2nd century B.C. fragment has a dark grayish brown slip. Examination of other centers reveal that the slips of this bowl shape are either red or close to red7.

11.SBK.2012.316

Rim Diam.: 8.6 cm. h: 3.2 cm.
Clay: HUE 10 YR 4/2 Dark grayish brown.
Temper: Calcite and mica.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip HUE 10 YR 4/2 Dark grayish brown.
Similar: Bilde 2010, Pl. 170, F 12, p. 277.
Date: Late 2nd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 11

Fish plates (Pl. 1: 12-14)

  • 8 Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 50-51, 710, 717, p. 315-316.
  • 9 Handberg and Petersen 2010: 236.

10Fish plates are particularly common in the early Hellenistic period. An even proportion of fish plates and bowls were found during the excavations. Vessels have nearly vertical overhanging rims and a circular dimple at the center. These samples are dated to the 3rd century B.C.8. Besides the high quality black slip ware, one of the sherds has a dark brown slip. It is understood that this shape is widely used in the Black Sea region. Although there are places where it is locally produced as red figure, black slip ware is widespread in many centers9.

12.SBK.2012.163

Rim Diam.: - h: 2 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 2.5/1 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 50, 710, p. 315.
Date: 320-310 B.C.

Pl. 1: 12

13.SBK.2011.613

Rim Diam.: 17 cm. h: 1.8 cm.
Clay: 5 Y 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand ve calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer sur
face slip 2.5 Y 2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 51, 717, p. 316.
Date: 290-275 B.C.

Pl. 1: 13

14.SBK.2011.554

Foot Diam.: 8.4 cm. h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 5/1 Gray.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 3/2
Dark reddish brown.
Date: Late 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 14

Kantharoi (Pl. 1: 15-17)

  • 10 Histria samples: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, Cat. 4, p. 88; Panskoye samples: Hannestad (...)

11The kantharoi are among the highest quality tableware, especially during the early Hellenistic period. The sherds found have mainly two different shapes. The first type shows a flat rimmed while the second has a grooved rimmed. Both shapes are dated to the late 4th century B.C. and have high quality black slips typical of the period10.

15.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: 10.6 cm. h: 2.1 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 2.5/1 Black.
Similar: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, Cat. 4, p. 88; Hannestad et al. 2002: Pl. 63, B 88, pp. 127-149; Rotroff 1997: Fig. 6, 36-46, p. 85.
Date: Late 4th century B.C.-3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 15

16.SBK.2010.76

Rim Diam.: - h: 2.7 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/4 Light reddish brown.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2
.5 Y 2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Pl. 1, Fig. 4; Zolatarev 2005: Fig. 5, 2-7, p. 203.
Date: Late 4th century B.C.

Pl. 1: 16

17.SBK.2010.24

Width: 2.4 cm. h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Mica.
Surface: outer surface slip 7.5 Y 2.5/0 Black, inner
surface clay colored.
Date: Late 4th century B.C.

Pl. 1: 17

Kantharos-Skyphos bowl feet (Pl. 1: 18-22)

12Among the finds, there are also basal sherds, the shapes of which cannot be fully ascertained, which we dated to the Hellenistic period based on their slips and decorations. Their shapes suggest that they are bases of kantharoi, skyphoi or bowls. There carry impressed decorations of roulettes, palmettes and ovolos in the inner faces of the bowl feet. This type of decoration is widely used in the late Classical and early Hellenistic periods. As with other shapes, black slip is used.

18.SBK.2011.502

Foot Diam.: 4 cm. h: 2.6 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 7/4 Pembe .
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 4/1 Dark gray.
Date: First quarter of the 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 18

19.SBK.2012.354

Rim Diam.: - h: 0.7 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Calcite and mica.
Surface: Inner and outer surfac
e slip 5 Y 2.5/1 Black.
Similar: Handberg and Petersen 2010: Pl. 100, 147, p. 210.
Date: Early 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 19

20.SBK.2011.613

Foot Diam.: 3.9 cm. h: 2.2 cm.
Clay: 5 Y 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip
2.5 Y 2.5/0 Black.
Date: Early 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 20

21.SBK.2011.205

Foot Diam.: - h: 2.7 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 5/4 Dark brown.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 2.
5/1 Black.
Date: 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 21

22.SBK.2011.205

Foot Diam.: - h: 1.5 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 5/6 Dark brown.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 2.
5/1 Black.
Date: 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 22

Oil lamps (Pl. 1: 23-27)

  • 11 Athens Agora samples: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 15, 38, 311, 434, p. 73-74, 101-103; Olbia samples: Høj (...)
  • 12 Howland 1958: Pl. 49, 666, p. 169-170.

13A small number of clay lamps were found during the excavations. Most of them are black slip and wheel made. This type of lamps are dated to the early Hellenistic period11. One of the samples differs from the others with its gray slip and the fact that it is mould-made. It is known that this type of lamps are Ephesian productions. However, there are also locally produced imitations of Ephesian lamps12. It is highly likely that, as it is the sole sample, it is an imported good. Mould-made lamps started to be produced in later periods. This lamp sherd can be dated between the late 2nd and the early 1st centuries B.C.

23.SBK.2011.66

Length: 4 cm. h: 3.8 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 38, 311, p. 73-74; Højte 2010: Pl. 323, O-64, p. 432.
Date: Second half of 4th century B.C. - first quarter of the 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 23

24.SBK.2011.493

Length: 4.8 cm. h: 2.5 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 7.5 Y
R 2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 38, 311.
Date: Second half of 4th century B.C. - first quarter of the 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 24

25.SBK.2012.86

Foot Diam.: 4.8 h: 2.5 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5
YR 2.5/0 Black.
Date: 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 25

26.SBK.2010.42

Length: 5 cm. h: 2.1 cm.
Clay: 10 YR 5/3 Brown.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: outer surface 7.5 YR 2.5/0 Black, inner
surface 10 YR 6/4 Same color as the outer surface slip on top of light yellowish brown.
Similar: Howland 1958: Pl. 15, 434, p. 101-103.
Date: Late 3rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 26

27.SBK.2012.357

Length: 4.7 cm. h: 2.2 cm.
Clay: 10 YR 5/1 Gray.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 YR 4/1
Dark gray.
Similar: Howland 1958, Pl. 49, 666, p. 170.
Date: Late 2nd century B.C. - early 1st century A.D.

Pl. 1: 27

Roman Period Pottery Finds

14A large number of Roman period finds were unearthed during the 2010-12 excavation seasons. The number of finds is much larger than those dated to the Hellenistic period.

15The reason for this could be that the excavation is in its early stages. In this group, high-quality forms are especially introduced. The first of these shapes is the gray slip ware, widely used in the early Roman period.

Gray slip ware (Pl. 2: 28-29)

  • 13 Mitsopoulos and Leon 1991: 78-85.
  • 14 Slane Wright 1980: 135-177; Slane 1986: 271-318.
  • 15 Hayes 1995: 185-196.
  • 16 Slane 1980: 168.

16Gray slip ware can be found in many places. They are known in Antiochia, Tarsos, Samaria, Çandarlı, Ephesos, Samos, Delos and Athens albeit in different shapes13. They also exist in Korinth14 and Troia15. The latest samples from Korinth date to the reign of Tiberius16. One of the samples at the Balatlar Church in Sinop has high-quality slip and has an ovolo pattern in relief on the rim. It is a wide plate, according to the diameter of the mouth, and dates to the early 1st century A.D. A similar sample has a yellowish red slip. As in the gray slip sample, its rim is decorated with an ovolo pattern in relief, and the contours of the shape is much softer. It is possible that the change in colour is due to firing, or that it is an imitation considering the simple changes in the shape. An identical comparative sample could not be located in other centers.

28.SBK.2010.76

Rim Diam.: 29 cm. h: 4.9 cm.
Clay: 10 YR 4/1 Dark gray.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 YR 4/1 Dark gray.
Date: Early 1st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 28

29.SBK.2010.76

Rim Diam.: 30 cm. h: 3.1 cm.
Clay: Core 2.5 YR 5/8 Light red, rims 10 YR 5/6 yellowish brown.
Temper: Sand and cal
cite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 5/6 Yellowish red.
Date: 6th century A.D.

Pl. 2: 29

Terra Sigillata (Pl. 2: 30-40)

  • 17 Domżalski 2007: 176.

17Terra Sigilatta, often seen in this period, is frequently found at the Balatlar Church in Sinop. These simple-shaped wide plates are spread across the northeast Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Although isolated, samples were also discovered in many Black Sea settlements17.

  • 18 Phanagoria samples: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig. (...)

18They are defined as ESA imitation Pontic sigillata in the Black Sea basin and are dated to the 1st century A.D.18. Similar in shape, the gray slip ware trays with thicker walls are dated to the late 1st century A.D. The following three samples should be an imitation produced in the Black Sea basin.

30.SBK.2011.563

Rim Diam.: 19 cm. h: 2 cm.
Clay: Core 7.5 YR 5/2 Brown, outer side 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 4/6 Red.
Similar: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Hayes 2008: Fig. 1, 7, 9, p. 124-125, Fig. 23, 753, p. 196; Warner Slane 1990: Fig. 11, 124, p. 60-61.
Date: 1st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 30

31.SBK.2010.129

Rim Diam.: 20 cm. h: 1.9 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/4 Light brown.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.
5 YR 4/8 Red.
Similar: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Hayes 2008: Fig. 1, 7, 9, p. 124-125, Fig. 23, 753, p. 196; Warner Slane 1990: Fig. 11, 124, p. 60-61.
Date: 1st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 31

32.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 30.8 cm. h: 2.2 cm.
Clay: Core 2.5 Y 4/0 Pink, outer side 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner
and outer surface slip 10 R 4/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 29, 905, pp. 212-213. Date: Late 1st century B.C.

Pl. 2: 32

  • 19 Zhuravlev 2009: 25.
  • 20 Belbek samples: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, 5, Form 2, 3, 5, 18, 19, p. 34-35, 39.

19Plates with a vertical rim (Pl. 2: 33-35), widespread in the Black Sea basin, are among the Pontic sigillata19. The number of plates are of similar proportions to sherds of other shapes. This plates have got angled and raised rim. Sigillata of this form are dated to the 1st century A.D.20.

33.SBK.2010.41

Rim Diam.: 25.6 cm. h: 3.5 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/8 Red, surfaces are very eroded.
Similar: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, Form 2, 19, pp. 3435; Laflı and Kan Şahin 2012: p. 58-59.
Date: 1st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 33

34.SBK.2012.220

Rim Diam.: - h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface sl
ip 2.5 YR 4/8 Red.
Similar: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, Form 2, 18, p. 3435.
Date: 1st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 34

35.SBK.2011.565

Rim Diam.: 24 cm. h: 2.4 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Light red.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10
R 4/4 Red.
Similar: Zhuravlev 2009, Fig. 5, Form 3, 5, p. 39.
Date: Late 1st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 35

  • 21 Krapivina 2010: 266.
  • 22 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 87, 151, p. 455; Olbia samples: Krapivina 2010: Pl. 163, E-52, p. (...)

20Another plate shape is the flat based (Pl. 2: 36), thin and elegant walled, glossy slip sigillata. Its small mouth diameter is striking. The mouth diameters of this shape of vessels are usually wider. Considering its shape and slip characteristics, it could be an ESB imitation. It is known that this shape is an Anatolian production21. The shape, as in the plates with vertical rims, dates to the 1st century A.D.22.

36.SBK.2012.124-186

Rim Diam.: 11 cm. h: 2.1 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1973: Pl. 87, 151, p. 455; Krapivina 2010: Pl. 163, E-52, p. 266.
Date: 1st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 36

  • 23 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 91, 220, p. 465-466.

21One of the most common bowl shapes is the thin, grooved rim bowls (Pl. 2: 37). This sherd has incised transverse lines on a grooved rim. They date to a later period, ca. 2nd-3rd centuries A.D.23.

37.SBK.2012.224

Rim Diam.: 12.2 cm. h: 3.7 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Calcite and mica.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1973: Pl. 91, 220, p. 465-466.
Date: 2nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 37

  • 24 Zhuravlev 2002: 245.
  • 25 Neapolis, Tanais, Myrmekion samples: Zhuravlev 2002: Fig. 4, 3, p. 246.

22The last bowl shape is the typical ESC (Pl. 2: 38). This shape is known to be the production of Çandarlı and is found in many settlements along the Black Sea coast24. The upper part protruding from below the rim is hemispherical in shape. The upper body of the sherd, dated to the first half of the 2nd century A.D.25, is missing.

38.SBK.2012.356

Rim Diam.: 9.8 cm. h: 3.1 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 8/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/6 Red.
Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 25, 794, p. 200; Zhuravlev 2002: Fig. 4, 3, p. 246.
Date: First half of the 2nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 38

23Jugs (Pl. 2: 30-40) are obtained in two different shapes - the rims of both make a triangular projection extending outwards from the rim. However, in one of the samples, the rim is more vertical and the transition to the body offers a wider curve. There is an incised letter ‘A’ on another thicker walled jug. These marks can be considered as potters’ marks.

39.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: 8.2 cm. h: 10.4 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand and mica.
Surface: Inner surface slip 5 YR 5/6 Red and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red. Incised letter ‘A’ on the body.
Date: 1st-2nd centuries A.D.

Pl. 2: 39

40.SBK.2011.555

Rim Diam.: 5 cm. h: 1 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Temper: Sand, mica.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR
4/8 Red.
Date: 1st- 2nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 40

Thin-walled ware (Pl. 2: 41-42)

  • 26 Anderson-Stojanovic 1992: 35-36; Hayes 1997: 96; Riley 1979: Fig. 104, 520.
  • 27 Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig. 50-51, 1603, 1608, p. 267-268

24Thin-walled jugs and mugs have been widespread in all centers dominated by Roman Empire since the early Roman period. This group of vessels, abundant in eastern Mediterranean, Italy and Eastern Europe, can be distinguished through its thin walls. However, it shares its decoration features with other vessel shapes. The thin walls and decoration types suggest that they are made in imitation of metal vessels26. The sherds discovered during the excavations at the Balatlar Church in Sinop are fragments of jugs and mugs. The rim and handle of a small-sized jug was also retrieved. This sample dates to the first half of the 2nd century A.D. Among the more widely encountered jugs, one of the sherds, which dates to the 2nd century-mid 3rd century A.D., has its rim and a small part of the handle27.

41.SBK.2011.460

Rim Diam.: 4 cm. h: 7.7 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner ve outer surface 10 YR 3/1 Dark gray.
Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 50, 1603, p. 267.
Date: First half of the 2nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 41

42.SBK.2012.224

Rim Diam.: 8.6 cm. h: 1.8 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface thin slip 5
YR 4/1 Dark gray.
Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 51, 1608, p. 268.
Date: 2nd century A.D. - mid 3rd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 42

Late Roman Period Pottery Finds

25The Bath and palaestra complex which is dated to the Roman period, has been used as a Church in the Late Roman Period, that is why ceramic finds belonging to Late Roman period are also found in large numbers. Red slip ware forms and clay lamps have a significant place among the other pottery finds.

Red Slip Ware (Pl. 3: 43-54)

26The high-quality sigillata slips were replaced with matt slips of lesser quality starting from the Late Roman period. The same forms continue to be used. The ‘Late Roman Red Slip Ware’ contains a diverse set of vessel shapes. This group of wares is especially abundant among the finds. They are found over a long time span, from the 4th until the 7th century A.D.

  • 28 Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 53, Cat. 37, p. 194.

27In the first sample of the deep plates (Pl. 3: 43), it can be seen that the rim is jutted to receive the lid. Below the jut, there are incised lines with wide spaces left in between. There are approximately seven rows of impressed decorations of small roulette patterns. Roulette decorations are very widespread in this period. Similar sherds to this 4th century A.D. sherd were discovered during the Demirci amphora workshop excavations near Sinop28.

43.SBK.2011.563

Rim Diam.: - h: 4.6 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 5/8 Yellowish red.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner surface slip 2.5 YR 5/4 Reddish brown and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Similar: Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 53, Cat. 37, p. 194.
Date: 4th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 43

  • 29 Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, p. 190.
  • 30 Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325.

28Among the deep plates, the group with flat rims (Pl. 3: 44-47), which make a sharp turn in the transition to the body, dated to the late 4th - early 5th century A.D.29, is the most common group. There is no footed sample among this wide mouth plates. However, when compared with similar samples30, it can be seen that this type of plates are low footed.

44.SBK.2011.433

Rim Diam.: 21.6 cm. h: 3.7 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190.
Date: Late 4th - early 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 44

45.SBK.2012.460

Rim Diam.: 18.2 cm. h: 2.8 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R
4/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190.
Date: Late 4th - early 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 45

46.SBK.2011.596

Rim Diam.: 19.2 cm. h: 3.2 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR
4/6 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190.
Date: Late 4th century A.D. - early 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 46

47.SBK.2011.596

Rim Diam.: 21.2 cm. h: 2.8 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR
5/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972, Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010, Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190.
Date: Late 4th century A.D. - early 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 47

  • 31 Pompeiopolis samples: Domżalski 2011: Fig. 10-11, Fig. 3, 2.10; Çandarlı samples: Hayes 1972: Fig. (...)

29The most common shape among the ‘Late Roman Red Slip Ware’ is the similarly rimmed wide bowls and plates. In this type of vessels (Pl. 3: 48-54), the rim usually juts outwards and makes a groove where it joins the body. The body then narrows towards the foot. In some of the sherds, there are two or three rows of roulette decorations on the rims. There is a small hole in the body of one of the sherds. This hole is most likely a repair mark. This shape, based on similar vessels, can be dated to the 5th-6th century A.D31.

48.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: 18 cm. h: 4.3 cm.
Clay: 10 R 5/8 Red.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 5/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 10, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 21, p.191.
Date: 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 48

49.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 21.6 cm. h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red .
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface sl
ip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 10, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 18, p.191.
Date: 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 49

50.SBK.2011.606

Rim Diam.: 28.8 cm. h: 3.2 cm.
Clay: 10 R 6/6 Red .
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 6
/6 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 14, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 18, p.191.
Date: 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 50

51.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: - h: 2.8 cm.
Clay: 10 R 4/8 Red.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 5/6 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 14, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 18, p.191.
Date: 5th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 51

52.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: - h: 2.4 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 Y
R 5/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 16, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 23, p.192.
Date: Late 5th - early 6th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 52

53.SBK.2011.255

Rim Diam.: 22 cm. h: 3. 6 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Açık red.
Temper: Sand, mica and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer
surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Similar: Domżalski 2011: Fig. 10-11, Fig. 3, 2. 10; Hayes 1972: Fig. 71, 4.
Date: 6th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 53

54.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: 28.4 cm. h: 2.8 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 4/6 Red.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 Y
R 5/6 Red. Burn mark on rim.
Similar: Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 52, Cat. 34, p. 193.
Date: 6th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 54

Oil Lamp (Pl. 3: 55)

30One late Roman clay lamp was discovered (Pl. 3: 55). The lamp, the spout and body of which was preserved, has its upper body decorated with poured reddish yellow paint on top of a thin beige colored slip. The embossed projection around the discus joins with the edge of the nozzle. The lamp fragment can be dated to the 6th-7th centuries A.D. based on the width of the discus hole and the shape of the nozzle.

55.SBK.2011.135

Length: 7.1 cm. h: 4.4 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand, calcite, mica and shamotte.
Surface: Inner and outer surface 5 YR 6/8 Reddish yellow on top of clay paint color.
Date: 6th-7th centuries A.D.

Pl. 3: 55

Conclusions

31It is too early to draw conclusions from the finds of the excavations at the Balatlar Church in Sinop, considering that only the third season has been completed yet. However, based on these finds, it can be said that, typical shapes of the period exist here, as in other settlements across the Black Sea. On the other hand, while some Hellenistic shapes of high-quality black slip ware are considered to be imported, various Roman period shapes could be local. Although the pottery workshops around Sinop are from an earlier period, their existence support this hypothesis. It is not surprising for a port city like Sinop for various sigillata shapes of the Black Sea to be discovered here. It is presumed that, forthcoming excavations will reveal more detailed proofs.

Top of page

Bibliography

Anderson-Stojanovic, V. R., 1992: Stobi, The Hellenistic and Roman Pottery, Princeton.

Angelescu, A. V. and Bâltâc, A., 2002-2003: “Sondajul ‘a’ din basilica episcopalâ de la Histria”, Pontika 35-36: 85-123.

Bilde, P. G., 2010: “Mouldmade Bowls”, in Lejpunskaja, Nina A. et al. (eds.), The Lower City of Olbia, (Sector NGS), in the 6th Century B.C. to the 4th Century AD, Vol. 1 [Black Sea Studies 13], Aarhus: 269-288.

Domżalski, K., 2007: “Changes in Late Classical and Hellenistic Fine Pottery Production in Eastern Mediterranean as Reflected by Imports in the Pontic Area”, in Gabrielsen, V. and Lund, J. (eds.), Black Sea in Antiquity: Regional and Interregional Economic Exchanges [Black Sea Studies 6], Aarhus: 161-182.

Domżalski, K., 2011: “Late Roman Pottery from Pompeiopolis”, in Summerer, L. (ed.), Pompeiopolis I: eine Zwischenbilanz aus der Metropole Paphlagoniens nach fünf Kampagnen (2006-2010) [Schriften des Zentrums für Archaologie und Kulturgeschichte des Schwarzmeerraumes, Bd 21]: 163-178.

Drews, R., 1976: “The Earliest Greek Settlements on the Black Sea”, Journal of Hellenic Studies 96: 18-31.

Handberg, S. and Petersen, J. H., 2010: “Glossed Pottery”, in Lejpunskaja, Nina A. et al. (eds.), The Lower City of Olbia, (Sector NGS), in the 6th Century B.C. to the 4th Century AD, Vol. 1 [Black Sea Studies 13], Aarhus: 185-260.

Hannestad, L., Stolba, V. F. and Blinkenberg Hastrup, H., 2002: “Black-Glazed Pottery, Red-Figure and grey Ware Pottery”, in Hannestad, L., Stolba, V. F. and Shcheglov, A. N. (eds.), Panskoye I, The Monumental Building U6, Aarhus: 127-149.

Hayes, J. W., 1973: “Roman Pottery from the South Stoa at Corinth”, Hesperia 42.4: 416-470.

Hayes, J. W., 1995: “An Early Roman Well Group from the Troia Excavations 1992”, Studia Troica 5: 185-196.

Hayes, J. W., 1997: Handbook of Mediterranean Roman Pottery, University of Oklahoma Press.

Hayes, J.W., 2008: Roman Pottery, Fine Ware Imports [The Athenian Agora, Vol. XXXII], Princeton.

Højte, J.M., 2010: “Lamps”, in Lejpunskaja, Nina A. et al. (eds.), The Lower City of Olbia, (Sector NGS), in the 6th Century B.C. to the 4th Century AD, Vol. 1 [Black Sea Studies 13], Aarhus: 423-438.

Howland, R. H., 1958: Greek Lamps and Their Survivals [The Athenian Agora, Vol. IV], Princeton.

Kasaev, S. V., 2002: “Commonware”, in Hannestad, L., Stolba, V. F. and Shcheglov, A.N. (eds.), Panskoye I, The Monumental Building U6, Aarhus: 150-179.

Köroğlu, G., 2011: “2010 Yılı Sinop Balatlar Kilisesi Kazısı”, KST 33: 65-76.

Köroğlu, G., 2012: “Sinop Balatlar Kilisesi 2011 Yılı Kazı Çalışmaları”, KST 34: 313-324.

Krapivina, V. V., 2010: “Red Glossed Pottery”, in Lejpunskaja, Nina A. et al. (eds.), The Lower City of Olbia, (Sector NGS), in the 6th Century B.C. to the 4th Century AD, Vol. 1 [Black Sea Studies 13], Aarhus: 261268.

Laflı, E. and Kan Şahin, G., 2012: “Terra Sigillata and Red-Slipped Ware from Hadrianopolis”, Anatolia Antiqua XX: 45-120. DOI: 10.3406/anata.2012.1326.

Riley, J. A., 1979: “The Coarse Pottery from Benghazi”, in Lloyd, J. A. (ed.), Excavations at Sidi Khrebish Benghazi (Berenice), vol. 2, Tripoli: 91-467.

T.C. Sinop İl Özel İdaresi, Sinop Tarihi ve Kültür Envanteri, 2013.

Slane Wright, K. A., 1980: “Tiberian Pottery Deposit from Corinth”, Hesperia 49.5: 135-177.

Slane Wright, K.A., 1986: “Two Deposits from the Early Roman Cellar Building”, Hesperia 55.3: 271-318.

Warner Slane, K., 1990: Corinth XVIII.2, The Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore: The Roman Pottery and Roman Lamps, Princeton.

Zajcev, J. P., 2005: “Absolute and Relative Scythian Neapolis in the 2nd century B.C.”, in Stolba, V. F. and Hannestad, L. (eds.), Chronologies of the Black Sea Area in the Period c. 400-100 B.C., Aarhus: 259-275.

Zolotarev, M. I., 2005: “The Hellenistic Ceramic Deposit from the North-eastern Sector of Chersonesos”, in Stolba, V. F. and Hannestad, L. (eds.), Chronologies of the Black Sea Area in the Period c. 400-100 B.C., Aarhus: 193-216.

Zhuravlev, D. V., 2002: “Terra Sigillata and Red Slip Pottery in the North Pontic Region (A Short Bibliographical Survey)”, Ancient Civilizations 8, 3-4: 237-309.

Zhuravlev, D. V, 2009: “Pontic Sigillata Plates with a Vertical Rim from the Belbek IV Necropolis in the South-Western Crimea”, Ancient Civilizations Scythia in Siberia 15: 2529.

Top of page

Notes

1 Drews 1976: 18.31.

2 Sinop Tarihi ve Kültür Envanteri 2013: 64.

3 Köroğlu 2011: 65-76; 2012: 313-324.

4 Histria samples: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5 and p. 42, 87, 90, 117; Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 6263, 966-967, 980, 1000, p. 338-339; Khersonesos samples: Zolotarev 2005: Fig. 4, 8, p. 197-198.

5 Panskoye samples: Kašaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218, p. 159; Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52, 59, 740, 866, p. 318, 329; Neapolis samples: Zajcev 2005: Fig. 4, 33, p. 269.

6 Kašaev 2002: 159.

7 Olbia samples: Bilde 2010: Pl. 170, F 12, p. 277.

8 Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 50-51, 710, 717, p. 315-316.

9 Handberg and Petersen 2010: 236.

10 Histria samples: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, Cat. 4, p. 88; Panskoye samples: Hannestad et al. 2002: Pl. 63, B 88, p. 127-149; Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 4, 6, 36-46, p. 85; Khersonesos samples: Zolatarev 2005: Fig. 5, 2-7, p. 203.

11 Athens Agora samples: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 15, 38, 311, 434, p. 73-74, 101-103; Olbia samples: Højte 2010: Pl. 323, O-64, p. 432.

12 Howland 1958: Pl. 49, 666, p. 169-170.

13 Mitsopoulos and Leon 1991: 78-85.

14 Slane Wright 1980: 135-177; Slane 1986: 271-318.

15 Hayes 1995: 185-196.

16 Slane 1980: 168.

17 Domżalski 2007: 176.

18 Phanagoria samples: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig. 1, 23, 29, 7, 9, 753, 905, p. 124-125, 196, 212-213; Korinth samples: Warner Slane 1990: Fig. 11, 124, p. 60-61.

19 Zhuravlev 2009: 25.

20 Belbek samples: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, 5, Form 2, 3, 5, 18, 19, p. 34-35, 39.

21 Krapivina 2010: 266.

22 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 87, 151, p. 455; Olbia samples: Krapivina 2010: Pl. 163, E-52, p. 266.

23 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 91, 220, p. 465-466.

24 Zhuravlev 2002: 245.

25 Neapolis, Tanais, Myrmekion samples: Zhuravlev 2002: Fig. 4, 3, p. 246.

26 Anderson-Stojanovic 1992: 35-36; Hayes 1997: 96; Riley 1979: Fig. 104, 520.

27 Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig. 50-51, 1603, 1608, p. 267-268

28 Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 53, Cat. 37, p. 194.

29 Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, p. 190.

30 Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325.

31 Pompeiopolis samples: Domżalski 2011: Fig. 10-11, Fig. 3, 2.10; Çandarlı samples: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 71, 4, 10, 14, 16, p. 337; Demirci samples: Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, 52, Cat. 18, 21, 23, 34, p. 191.

Top of page

List of illustrations

Title Fig. 1
Caption Black Sea basin and location of Sinop.
URL http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-1.jpg
File image/jpeg, 200k
Title Fig. 2
Caption Plan of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).
URL http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-2.jpg
File image/jpeg, 800k
Title Fig. 3
Caption View of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).
URL http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-3.jpg
File image/jpeg, 1.3M
Title Plate 1
URL http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-4.jpg
File image/jpeg, 180k
URL http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-5.jpg
File image/jpeg, 24k
Title Plate 2
URL http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-6.jpg
File image/jpeg, 152k
Title Plate 3
URL http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-7.jpg
File image/jpeg, 134k
Top of page

References

Bibliographical reference

Eda Güngör Alper, Hellenistic and Roman Period Ceramic Finds from the Balatlar Church Excavations in Sinop between 2010-2012Anatolia Antiqua, XXII | 2014, 35-49.

Electronic reference

Eda Güngör Alper, Hellenistic and Roman Period Ceramic Finds from the Balatlar Church Excavations in Sinop between 2010-2012Anatolia Antiqua [Online], XXII | 2014, Online since 30 June 2018, connection on 18 April 2024. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/289; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/anatoliaantiqua.289

Top of page

About the author

Eda Güngör Alper

Research Assistant Dr., Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Literature, Department of Archaeology, Izmir

Top of page

Copyright

CC-BY-SA-4.0

The text only may be used under licence CC BY-SA 4.0. All other elements (illustrations, imported files) are “All rights reserved”, unless otherwise stated.

Top of page
Search OpenEdition Search

You will be redirected to OpenEdition Search