A Study of Urartian Red Glossy Pottery Production in Van, Turkey, Using Archaeological, Ethnoarchaeological and Experimental Archaeological Methods

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to cast light on how the red glossy slipped pottery of the Urartian Kingdom (9th–6th century BC) was manufactured. Ethnoarchaeology and experimental archaeology, as well as more traditional archaeological research methods, are used to discern the processes involved. First, the pottery was categorized based on surface treatment. Next, ethnoarchaeological research was carried out in the village of Bardakçı in the province of Van (Eastern Turkey) to gain a more detailed understanding of ancient ceramic production techniques. This approach and subsequent experiments provided important insights into the technology that was used during the production of ancient Urartian pottery. The findings of the ethnoarchaeological work indicate that the practices of modern potters living in villages near Urartian settlements are similar, in terms of materials and methods, to the practices of the past.