Ancient ceramic atelier found in western tumulus

KÜTAHYA - Anadolu Agency

The ancient ceramic atelier has been uncovered in Seyitömer Tumulus.

An ancient ceramic atelier has been found in the Seyitömer Tumulus in the western province of Kütahya, which was used in the Roman, Hellenistic, Achaemenid, Middle and Early Bronze ages. The atelier had a clay pool and furnace.

The archaeology department of the local Dumlupınar University has been conducting excavations in the area since 2006 and thousands of ceramics have so far been delivered to the Kütahya Museum.

“Not only the ceramic furnace but also a complex where we see a clay pool and traces of ceramic production have been uncovered. There is a wall in front of the furnace and outside the wall a door is open to the street. Ceramic production was one of the important means of living for people living in the Seyitömer Tumulus.” said Assistant Professor Fikret Özbay.

Özbay said the tumulus could be one of the earliest examples of Kütahya tile tradition.

“Most probably tile making in Kütahya started here. It is not just one furnace, but we have unearthed dozens of furnaces. The tumulus is not too big but there was intense ceramic production, showing that trade was related to ceramics here,” he said.