Motif and colors used in the Van lake basin ceramics

With the transition to sedentary life, the shaping of clay into a product is presented as one of the important stages in the historical process of humankind. In the partially intact remains, hidden traces now represent the way of life of past societies, providing valuable clues. Most of these traces belong to the Urartian civilization and are in the Lake Van Basin. The Lake Van Basin is a region that attracts attention due to its rich history and cultural significance. This region has been influenced by different civilizations throughout history and has hosted various cultural structures. The pottery unearthed during the excavations in this region serves as one of the most important sources for researchers to shed light on the historical process. These remains and findings are significant works of art and cultural expressions from the past to the present. The pottery found in the Lake Van Basin plays an integral role in this rich cultural heritage. The colors and motifs used on the surfaces of this pottery vary according to the era, culture, and society in which it was created. In addition, the symbols and aesthetics of this society are reflected in the motifs and colours used in the pottery of the people who lived in this region. The pottery from the Lake Van basin, through the motifs and dyes used in the pottery from different periods, provides clues to the social, cultural, economic and religious life of the civilisations that lived there. However, since most archaeological studies focus on the Urartian civilization, coinciding with the Middle Iron Age, and generally concentrate on the typology of goods, pre- and post-Urartu finds have not found enough space in academic sources in this sense. This study discusses thedevelopment of pottery production, the dyes used, and the motifs from the prehistoric period of the Van Lake Basin.