Production of terracotta figurines in the Eastern Aegean during the Early Iron Age

In the thesis study, which examined the terracotta figurines produced in the Eastern Aegean region in the Early Iron Age, it was aimed to explain the interaction in the Eastern Aegean. In this thesis study is sought an answer to the questions of "Was there a general interaction in the Eastern Aegean? How much were the regions that formed the Eastern Aegean border in interaction with each other? Did the atelier in this area have a local tradition? Did the manufacturing tradition in the Archaic period come from the Geometric Period?". The Early Iron Age terracotta figurines found during the excavations related to this period are very few. In the thesis consisting of six chapters, the area limited by the Eastern Aegean covers Rhodos, Kos, Samos, Chios and Western Anatolia (Claros, Ephesus Temple of Artemis, Miletos and Erythrai). First of all, the areas where the figurines were found in these regions were mentioned and the figurines were evaluated technically, stylistically and iconographically. Then, comparisons of these figurines with neighboring regions were made. In the origin and interaction section, the similarities and differences in figurine production with the figurine traditions of Cyprus, Crete, Greece and previous ages are discussed. In the conclusion section, it was understood that the first use of wheels in zoomorphic figurines and the skirt of "woman / goddess figurines with raised arms" in the Bronze Age and Crete, points to the Cretan influence in the figurine tradition and the continuity from the Bronze Age and the appearance of cavalry figurines and bell-shaped figurines in the Eastern Aegean, points to the Cypriot influence in the figurine tradition. In Greece, while Rhodes and Kos influences were especially striking, traces of Crete and Cyprus influence were also observed. As a result, while it is possible to talk about the influence of Cyprus and Crete throughout the Eastern Aegean, it has been reached the idea that there is no unity specific to the Eastern Aegean. It should also be noted that the results may change with new findings due to the limited publication of the Early Iron Age or the figurine tradition of this period and the figurines being found from different places, in fragments and in small numbers.