Long-distance trade relations in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Late Bronze Age: An archaeometric study of Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW) using petrographic, elemental and Sr-Nd isotope analysis

Abstract

The Late Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean (c. 1600–1200 BCE) was a period characterized by intensive intercultural connectivity and long-distance exchange. In understanding these networks through material remains, ceramic plays a crucial role. From this perspective, Red Lustrous Wheel-made Ware (RLW), a distinctive ceramic assemblage marked by its fine red fabric, well-burnished lustrous surfaces, and unique forms, is of significant importance in understanding material culture exchange among the major polities of Anatolia, Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt. Despite its vast geographical distribution, the production place of this ware has been the subject of scholarly debate, with differing hypotheses suggesting regions such as Northern Cyprus and Rough Cilicia in Southern Anatolia.

This study aimed to contribute to the debate on the origin of RLW and to enhance our understanding of Late Bronze Age connectivity in the Eastern Mediterranean by employing a multi-analytical approach, integrating petrographic, geochemical (elemental), and isotopic (Sr-Nd) analyses. Archaeometric analysis of RLW ceramic samples (n = 58) from key archaeological sites, including Kilise Tepe, Boğazköy/Ḫattuša, and Tell Atchana/Alalakh in Anatolia, was compared with reference clay samples (n = 84) collected from Cyprus and Southern Anatolia, including the Göksu Valley.

in Sothern Anatolia, particularly those from the Göksu Valley, show strong compositional affinities with the RLW samples, providing convincing evidence to support the hypothesis of a Rough Cilician origin. This archaeometric evidence underlines the Göksu Valley’s pivotal role in Late Bronze Age trade networks in the Eastern Mediterranean. The historical harbor town of Ura, mentioned in textual sources, may have served as a central hub for the trade of RLW, linking Anatolia with Cyprus, the Levant, and Egypt.