New Insights on the Sealing Practices in Early Bronze Age Anatolia: A Case Study from Küllüoba, Eskişehir

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed examination of a cretula found in situ during the excavations at Küllüoba, situated in the westernmost part of Central Anatolia. A series of at least three sealings were impressed side by side on this piece of clay that covered the mouth of a bottle or a narrow-necked jar. The same seal, which created these sealings at the rim of the vessel, was also used to roll impressions on the bottom part of the cretula. The find, which is a first in Küllüoba, where excavations have been carried out for many years, is compared with the few examples found in Anatolia. Their similarities and differences are discussed in this paper. Although various types of stamp seals unique to Anatolia have been unearthed in many settlements where the Early Bronze Age (EBA) is well represented, the functions of sealings are scarce. The abovementioned cretula found in Küllüoba will play a part in re-examining the function of stamp seals that have no associated sealings discovered so far and in understanding the mechanisms of commerce and economics emerging in Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age.