The Micromorphology of Gözlükule (Tarsus) excavation of the Early Bronze Age survey ceramics

The raw material sources and technological properties of the Tarsus (Gözlükule) Hoyuk's selected survey ceramics stored in the Early Bronze Age boxes in the Adana Ethnography Museum, were studied by detailed mineralogical, micromorphological and chemical analyses. Results revealed that volcanic, metamorphic and sedimentary minerals along with lagoonal clayey raw materials of Tarsus and adjacent sites were used for the ceramic production in the Early Bronze Age. However, the significant difference in the vitrification level and the mineralogical properties of the sample no 9 would strengthen the view of being an imported ceramic ware. Moreover, when compared with the data of Goldsmith's catalogue, the ceramics stored in the boxes do not only represent the Early Bronze Age but also the Middle and Late Bronze Ages is later periods than the previously assigned Early Bronze Age of Tarsus. Thus, the results of this study reveal that, as it is on many occasions, archaeological studies should be supported by archaeometric approaches. Keywords: Gözlükule (Tarsus), Archaeometry, Early Bronze Age, Micromorphology, Mineralogy II