Ceramics from trench 21LHS01 at Herakleia on Latmos

This study examines the archaeological data of a seven-room building complex discovered in excavation area 21LHS01 at the ancient city of Latmos Herakleia in the Caria Region, focusing on ceramic finds through an integrated approach that analyzes the findings from excavations conducted between 2021-2023. Located west of the Endymion Temple, this building complex functioned as a multifunctional living space where residential, production, processing, storage, and commercial activities were conducted together. A total of 202 ceramic fragments were systematically catalogued from 918 ceramic pieces found suitable for evaluation. The ceramic finds constitute the primary data group and serve as the center of the interpretive framework for understanding the building's functional character, usage phases, chronological development, and regional commercial relationships. While Hellenistic Period ceramics were identified in limited numbers and secondary contexts, and Roman Period Eastern Sigillata examples are present, the majority of the ceramic repertoire consists of Late Roman/Late Antique Period (3rd-7th century AD) materials. African Red Slip Ware (ARSW), Late Roman C (Phocaean) and Late Roman D (Cypriot) red-slipped ceramics, local cooking vessels, daily-use ceramics, and local-imported amphora examples belonging to this phase characterize the building's most intensive period of use. Spatial distribution analysis of ceramics concretely reveals the building's multifunctional character and transformation during usage phases. The combined use of local ceramic groups with imported products demonstrates that the building had both local resource-based production capacity and access to extensive geographical external trade networks. Ceramic data evaluated together with fishing tools and other find categories reveals that the building actively functioned as a small-scale family enterprise during the 3rd-7th centuries AD, reflecting the integrated structure of daily life practices and local production economy in Late Roman/Late Antique coastal Caria.