Amuq valley ceramics of 2nd Millennium BC

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the domestic and foreign cultures in 20th century BC in Amuq Valley and the interactions between these cultures in terms of ceramic material. The basic reasons for carrying out my study are that the knowledge on 20th century BC ceramics of Amuq Valley is limited and there is not any extensive study on this subject, yet. Study material was constituted with the publications on the 20th century BC ceramics of Amuq Valley. Within this context, 20th century BC ceramics of the region were detected in many settlements. However, sufficient information on the ceramics of that period could not be obtained. Therefore, the study was limited with the ceramic materials found in Alalakh/Tell Atchana, Tell Cüdeyde and Çatal Höyük. Approximately 100 pieces of ceramics belonging to Middle and Late Bronze Age that were found in these settlements were evaluated within the scope of study. 25 of them belong to domestic ceramics and 75 of them are imported ceramics. Ceramics of Middle and Late Bronze Age were evaluated under two main headings as domestic and imported. Accordingly, it is understood that there was a strong domestic ceramic tradition from the beginning of the 20th century BC and this domestic ceramic tradition was maintained during Late Bronze Age. Similarly, it can be said that the region had trade and cultural interactions with Middle Anatolia (Hittite), Mesopotamia (Mitannia), Cyprus and Crete (Minoan). Keywords: Amuq valley, middle bronze age, late bronze age, ceramic