Plaster finds of Hoşap Castle excavation (2007-2017)

ABSTRACT Hoşap (Güzelsu), which has served as a cradle for diverse cultures throughout history, is situated in the southeastern region of Lake Van. Surrounded by the Kuh, Başet, and Kapir Mountains, as well as a portion of the Norduz Plateau, Hoşap is located along the main thoroughfare connecting Van and Iran. As part of the Gürpınar district, it borders Hakkari to the south, Başkale to the east, Çatak and Gevaş to the west, and Van, Özalp, and Saray to the north. The castle was captured by Malik Shah in 1064. By 1100, it came under the rule of the Ahlatshahs and subsequently fell under the influence of various states, including the Ayyubids, the Anatolian Seljuks, the Ilkhanids, and the Karakoyunlus. During the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the significance of the castle increased considerably. In this context, around the mid-17th century, the Mahmudi Emirate, a local principality affiliated with the Ottoman Empire, emerged as a notable power in the region. Excavations at the castle have revealed a wealth of diverse artifacts, including numerous plaster fragments unearthed between 2007 and 2017. The plaster artifacts found within the architectural texture of Hoşap Castle, which is the subject of this study, have been examined in detail from all aspects. The plaster ornaments predominantly exhibit techniques of molding, carving, and openwork. These fragments have been categorized into two main groups: those with architectural decorative features and those distinguished by ornamental characteristics. The plaster artifacts with architectural features include muqarnas, niche arch fragments, and columned plaster pieces, while the ornamental fragments exhibit geometric, vegetal, epigraphic, hand-painted, and composite motifs (combining vegetal and geometric elements). The examined materials were found in a fragmented and incomplete state. Due to their condition, the precise location and manner in which these plaster fragments were originally used within the structure remain unknown. Therefore, the accuracy of their naming remains a subject of debate. However, efforts have been made to associate them with the architectural surfaces they were likely part of, leading to their categorization as borders, corner pieces, arches, and niche spandrels. Since the exact locations and arrangements of these artifacts within the structure remain unknown, the interpretations are based on educated assumptions. Hoşap Castle and the associated plaster fragments found within it are important architectural structures that need to be preserved and safeguarded in terms of their cultural values.