Late Bronze Age Pot Marks From Thyateira – Hastane Höyüğü

Abstract

Various hypotheses have been formulated to explain the function and meaning of pre-post firing marks in the Late Bronze Age Anatolia. Known as "pot marks," these signs have been prominently associated with the administrative systems–central authorities or viewed as an indicator of asymmetric interregional economic relations. However, these interpretations are not suitable for Western Anatolia due to the limited number of pot marks found in a few settlements, the distinctive qualities of pottery tradition in the region, and the lack of institutionalized interregional economic connections. This article presents the first examples of pot marks found in Akhisar-Hastane Höyük/Central West Anatolia with preliminary observations on the Late Bronze Age pottery groups. It emphasizes the ambiguous nature of pot marks, their typological similarities, and differences among non-regional parallels and suggests that their appearances in the Western Anatolian LBA settlements should be considered as singular cases for now.