Pictorial interpretations on ceramic surfaces of archaeological values of Çukurova region

The history of archeology shows that Cukurova Region is one of the very old residential areas. The presence of two important water sources of the Eastern Mediterranean Region in the region has enabled settlement to many civilizations and cultures. The Çukurova Region has served as a cultural, economic and geopolitical bridge between the Anatolian and Mesopotamian civilizations through trade routes. Thanks to this situation Çukurova Region has very rich archaeological cultural assets. In this thesis study, application studies have been carried out in combination of ceramic technology and painting art by making use of the archeological and geomorphological richness of Çukurova Region with an interdisciplinary approach. During the study, while the non-agricultural soil structure of the area called Cilicia has been examined, the manufacturability of archaeoceramics has been observed in the region and therefore, the availability of it with regards to ceramic technology has been understood. In the first section of the thesis study, general information about Çukurova Region in terms of archeology and geomorphology has been given. In the second section, general researches have been done on the raw materials of the materials we will use in application studies to give pictorial effects. Especially the soils that could be ceramics in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have been researched. Several clay mixtures and undercoats have been prepared by using Ceramic Technological methods and 2 stage (clay and undercoat experiments) studies have been carried out. In these experimental studies, the visual effects and microstructural changes of clay mixtures at 900 0C, 1000 0C, 1150 0C have been examined. Obtained suitable clay mixtures have been used as equivalent to canvas in the application work to be performed in order to give a pictorial effect. In another stage of the study, undercoat materials have been prepared for using as a colorant. In the course of the experimental works, the clay mixtures have been used completely from the soil of Çukurova Region without using any additive material in preparation of the undercoat material. In the third section of the study, panel and 3-dimensional application studies have been carried out on ceramic surfaces to give pictorial effects with various methods and techniques in the direction of the obtained data. In the fourth and last section, the experimental process and results of the thesis work have been evaluated. General comments about the usability and effects of ceramic materials in pictorial works have been made. At the end, it has been reached the result that, desired visual effects can be given by using the methods and techniques used in painting with the ceramic materials too.