1The ancient city of Sinop which was located in Paphlagonia during the Roman and Byzantine periods, is situated in the middle of the Anatolian Black Sea coast. The peninsula sheltering the city is the most northerly point of Anatolia and extends North-eastward (Fig. 1). Thanks to its localization, this area has always been an important port. History of Sinop and its environment goes back to Bronze Age. Ancient sources mention that Sinop was re-founded as a Greek colony of the city of Miletus in the middle of the 7^th century B.C.1, a chronology that is confirmed by the finds from the archaeological surveys and excavations.

Fig. 1

Agrandir Original (jpeg, 200k)

Black Sea basin and location of Sinop.

2Sinop Tarihi ve Kültür Envanteri 2013: 64.
3Köroğlu 2011: 65-76; 2012: 313-324.

2Besides the remains of the great city-walls2, Balatlar Church is the only building from the Roman Period in Sinop whose function could be determined.The excavations conducted by Prof. Gülgün Köroğlu since 2010 at the Balatlar Church have revealed a group of buildings that were used as a church and a graveyard from Byzantine to Ottoman periods, after being used as a bath-palaestra first3.

3The first stage of the complex includes a Bath and Palaestra and is dated to Roman Imperial Period (Fig. 2-3), although the bath seems to have earlier foundation, around the 2^nd century B.C. Archaeological surveys conducted in the surroundings revealed that the complex covered a vast area. The caldarium (hot section), tepidarium (warm section), apoditerium (changing room), and palaestra (playfield) of the Bath are still preserved today.

4The Hellenistic and Roman period ceramic groups retrieved from the excavations at the Balatlar Church in Sinop are fairly diverse. Although only three excavation seasons have been completed, the volume of early period information about the site continues to grow. The finds unfortunately do not provide a clear stratigraphical context, mainly because of the continuous occupation of the bath. Area I and II functioned as Eastern church, in the northeast of the cross shaped building, in the Seljuk and Ottoman Empire, between the 13^th and 15^th centuries (Fig. 2). The remains of the caldarium and the hall in the North became a cemetery that was used until the beginning of the 20^th century (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2

Agrandir Original (jpeg, 800k)

Plan of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).

Fig. 3

Agrandir Original (jpeg, 1,3M)

View of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).

5Because Sinop is an important port city, this region was always in contact with Greek and Black Sea coasts. Therefore, Hellenistic and Roman ceramics from Balatlar Church can be compared with Greek and other ancient cities that are located on the Black Sea coast.

Hellenistic Period Pottery Finds

6The Hellenistic period is very well represented, from the very beginning of the period until the Roman times. The finds consist of some of the most common shapes: bowls with incurved rim, bowls with outturned rim, mould-made bowls, fish plates,kantharoi and clay lamps.

Bowls with incurved rim (Pl. 1: 1-4)

4Histriasamples:Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5 and p. 42, 87, 90, 117;AthensAgorasample(...)

7The bowls show two different shapes. The first type, bowls with incurved rim, can be dated to the 4^th century B.C. until the early 3^rd century B.C.4, although this type of bowls are known to have been used throughout the Hellenistic period. Forthcoming excavations may reveal that this shape is spread over a wider time range. As they are from the early Hellenistic period, their slips are of high quality. Some variations can be noticed in the color of the slip, principally due to differences in firing the vessels.

Plate 1

Agrandir Original (jpeg, 180k)

1.SBK.2011.555 Rim Diam. : 16 cm. H : 2.3 cm. Clay : 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink. Temper : Calcite. Surface : inner and outer surface slip 7.5 Y 2.5/0 Black. Similar : Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003 : Fig. 5, 42, pp. 87, 90, 117 ; Rotroff 1997 : Fig. 62, 966, p. 338. Date : Late 4^th century B.C.	Pl. 1: 1
2.SBK.2011.602 Rim Diam.: 15.8 cm. h: 4 cm. Clay: 5 YR 6/8 Reddish yellow. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer 5 YR 7/6 Slipon top of reddish yellow surface 10 R 5/8 Red. Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 62, 980, p. 339; Zolotarev 2005: Fig. 4, 8, p. 196-197. Date:ca. 300 B.C.	Pl. 1: 2
3.SBK.2011.486 Rim Diam.: 9 cm. h: 2.1 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip2.5 Y 2.5/0 Black. Similar: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, 42, p. 87, 90, 117; Rotroff 1997: Fig. 62, 976, p. 339. Date: Early 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 3
4.SBK.2012.197 Rim Diam.: 15 cm. h: 3.7 cm. Clay: 2.5 Y 6/8 Light red. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 Y2.5/0 Black. Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 63, 1000. Date: 290-275 B.C.	Pl. 1: 4

Bowls with outturned rim (Pl. 1: 5-10)

5 Panskoye samples: Kašaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218, p. 159; Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52,(...)
6 Kašaev 2002: 159.

8Bowls with outturned rims are of a lesser quality than the previous type of bowls. Theyusually have a thin slip layer made of watered down clay. Black slip was used in several samples (Pl. 1: 7-8). This shape is dated to the early to middle Hellenistic period5.In the Panskoye samples, it is mentioned that similar shapes could be identified as mortar and they are thought to be the produced in Sinop6.

5.SBK.2011.6 Rim Diam.: 23.6 cm. h: 3.4 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 8/6 Pink. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface thin slip 7.5 YR 8/6 Pink. Similar: Kasaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218. Date: 4^th-3^rd centuries B.C.	Pl. 1: 5
6.SBK.2011.6 Rim Diam.: 21 cm. h: 3.4 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink. Temper: Sand and Calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface thin slip 7.5 YR 7/4 Pembe. Similar: Kasaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218. Date: 4^th-3^rd centuries B.C.	Pl. 1: 6
7.SBK.2011.6 Rim Diam.: 23.4 cm. h: 3.8 cm. Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow. Temper: Sand and calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 7.5 YR 7/4 Black. Similar: Kasaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218. Date: 4^th-3^rd centuries B.C.	Pl. 1: 7
8.SBK.2011.205 Rim Diam.: 15.2 cm. h: 3.7 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 2.5/1 Black. Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 59, 866, p. 329. Date: 325-300 B.C.	Pl. 1: 8
9.SBK.2011.6 Rim Diam.: 13 cm. h: 3.3 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink. Temper: Sand and calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface thin slip 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink. Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52, 740, p. 318; Zajcev 2005: Fig. 4, 33, p. 269. Date: 2^nd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 9
10.SBK.2011.6 Rim Diam.: 20 cm. h: 2.3 cm. Clay: 5 YR 6/8 Pink. Temper: Sand and calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface thin slip 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow. Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52, 740, p. 318; Zajcev 2005: Fig. 4, 33, p. 269. Date: 2^nd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 10

Mould-made bowls (Pl. 1: 11)

7 Olbia samples: Bilde 2010: Pl. 170, F 12, p. 277.

9Mould-made bowls, used throughout the Hellenistic period, have many different decorations and arehemispherical in shape. A small number of such finds were uncovered over the three-year excavation period in Sinop. These bowls are found in small numbers in other centers of the Black Sea. However it is widely used and produced in western Anatolia and the Mediterranean basin. The 2^nd century B.C. fragment has a dark grayish brown slip. Examination of other centers reveal that the slips of this bowl shape are either red or close to red7.

11.SBK.2012.316

Rim Diam.: 8.6 cm. h: 3.2 cm.
Clay: HUE 10 YR 4/2 Dark grayish brown.
Temper: Calcite and mica.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip HUE 10 YR 4/2 Dark grayish brown.
Similar: Bilde 2010, Pl. 170, F 12, p. 277.
Date: Late 2^nd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 11

Fish plates (Pl. 1: 12-14)

8 Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 50-51, 710, 717, p. 315-316.
9 Handberg and Petersen 2010: 236.

10Fish plates are particularly common in the early Hellenistic period. An even proportion of fish plates and bowls were found during the excavations. Vessels have nearly vertical overhanging rims and a circular dimple at the center. These samples are dated to the 3^rd century B.C.8. Besides the high quality black slip ware, one of the sherds has a dark brown slip. It is understood that this shape is widely used in the Black Sea region. Although there are places where it is locally produced as red figure, black slip ware is widespread in many centers9.

12.SBK.2012.163

Rim Diam.: - h: 2 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 2.5/1 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 50, 710, p. 315.
Date: 320-310 B.C.

Pl. 1: 12

13.SBK.2011.613

Rim Diam.: 17 cm. h: 1.8 cm.
Clay: 5 Y 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand ve calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 Y 2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 51, 717, p. 316.
Date: 290-275 B.C.

Pl. 1: 13

14.SBK.2011.554

Foot Diam.: 8.4 cm. h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 5/1 Gray.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 3/2Dark reddish brown.
Date: Late 3^rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 14

Kantharoi (Pl. 1: 15-17)

10 Histria samples: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, Cat. 4, p. 88; Panskoye samples: Hannestad(...)

11The kantharoi are among the highest quality tableware, especially during the early Hellenistic period. The sherds found have mainly two different shapes. The first type shows a flat rimmed while the second has a grooved rimmed. Both shapes are dated to the late 4^th century B.C. and have high quality black slips typical of the period10.

15.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: 10.6 cm. h: 2.1 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 2.5/1 Black.
Similar: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, Cat. 4, p. 88; Hannestadet al. 2002: Pl. 63, B 88, pp. 127-149; Rotroff 1997: Fig. 6, 36-46, p. 85.
Date: Late 4^th century B.C.-3^rd century B.C.

Pl. 1: 15

16.SBK.2010.76

Rim Diam.: - h: 2.7 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/4 Light reddish brown.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 Y 2.5/0 Black.
Similar: Rotroff 1997: Pl. 1, Fig. 4; Zolatarev 2005: Fig. 5, 2-7, p. 203.
Date: Late 4^th century B.C.

Pl. 1: 16

17.SBK.2010.24

Width: 2.4 cm. h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Mica.
Surface: outer surface slip 7.5 Y 2.5/0 Black, innersurface clay colored.
Date: Late 4^th century B.C.

Pl. 1: 17

Kantharos-Skyphos bowl feet (Pl. 1: 18-22)

12Among the finds, there are also basal sherds, the shapes of which cannot be fully ascertained, which we dated to the Hellenistic period based on their slips and decorations. Their shapes suggest that they are bases of kantharoi, skyphoi or bowls. There carry impressed decorations of roulettes, palmettes and ovolos in the inner faces of the bowl feet. This type of decoration is widely used in the late Classical and early Hellenistic periods. As with other shapes, black slip is used.

18.SBK.2011.502 Foot Diam.: 4 cm. h: 2.6 cm. Clay: 5 YR 7/4 Pembe . Temper: Sand and calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 4/1 Dark gray. Date: First quarter of the 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 18
19.SBK.2012.354 Rim Diam.: - h: 0.7 cm. Clay: 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow. Temper: Calcite and mica. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 2.5/1 Black. Similar: Handberg and Petersen 2010: Pl. 100, 147, p. 210. Date: Early 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 19
20.SBK.2011.613 Foot Diam.: 3.9 cm. h: 2.2 cm. Clay: 5 Y 7/6 Reddish yellow. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip2.5 Y 2.5/0 Black. Date: Early 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 20
21.SBK.2011.205 Foot Diam.: - h: 2.7 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 5/4 Dark brown. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 2.5/1 Black. Date: 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 21
22.SBK.2011.205 Foot Diam.: - h: 1.5 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 5/6 Dark brown. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 Y 2.5/1 Black. Date: 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 22

Oil lamps (Pl. 1: 23-27)

11Athens Agora samples: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 15, 38, 311, 434, p. 73-74, 101-103; Olbia samples: Høj(...)
12Howland 1958: Pl. 49, 666, p. 169-170.

13A small number of clay lamps were found during the excavations. Most of them are black slip and wheelmade. This type of lamps are dated to the early Hellenistic period11. One of the samples differs from the others with its gray slip and the fact that it is mould-made. It is known that this type of lamps are Ephesian productions. However, there are also locally produced imitations of Ephesian lamps12. It is highly likely that, as it is the sole sample, it is an imported good. Mould-made lamps started to be produced in later periods. This lamp sherd can be dated between the late 2^nd and the early 1^st centuries B.C.

23.SBK.2011.66 Length: 4 cm. h: 3.8 cm. Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 2.5/0 Black. Similar: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 38, 311, p. 73-74; Højte 2010: Pl. 323, O-64, p. 432. Date: Second half of 4^th century B.C. - first quarter of the 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 23
24.SBK.2011.493 Length: 4.8 cm. h: 2.5 cm. Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 7.5 YR 2.5/0 Black. Similar: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 38, 311. Date: Second half of 4^th century B.C. - first quarter of the 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 24
25.SBK.2012.86 Foot Diam.: 4.8 h: 2.5 cm. Clay: 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5YR 2.5/0 Black. Date: 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 25
26.SBK.2010.42 Length: 5 cm. h: 2.1 cm. Clay: 10 YR 5/3 Brown. Temper: Calcite. Surface: outer surface 7.5 YR 2.5/0 Black, innersurface 10 YR 6/4 Same color as the outer surface slip on top of light yellowish brown. Similar: Howland 1958: Pl. 15, 434, p. 101-103. Date: Late 3^rd century B.C.	Pl. 1: 26
27.SBK.2012.357 Length: 4.7 cm. h: 2.2 cm. Clay: 10 YR 5/1 Gray. Temper: Calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 YR 4/1Dark gray. Similar: Howland 1958, Pl. 49, 666, p. 170. Date: Late 2^nd century B.C. - early 1^st century A.D.	Pl. 1: 27

Roman Period Pottery Finds

14A large number of Roman period finds were unearthed during the 2010-12 excavation seasons. The number of finds is much larger than those dated to the Hellenistic period.

15The reason for this could be that the excavation is in its early stages. In this group, high-quality forms are especially introduced. The first of these shapes is the gray slip ware, widely used in the early Roman period.

Agrandir Original (jpeg, 24k)

Gray slip ware (Pl. 2: 28-29)

13Mitsopoulos and Leon 1991: 78-85.
14Slane Wright 1980: 135-177; Slane 1986: 271-318.
15Hayes 1995: 185-196.
16Slane 1980: 168.

16Gray slip ware can be found in many places. They are known in Antiochia, Tarsos, Samaria, Çandarlı, Ephesos, Samos, Delos and Athens albeit in different shapes13. They also exist in Korinth14 and Troia15. The latest samples from Korinth date to the reign of Tiberius16. One of the samples at the Balatlar Church in Sinop has high-quality slip and has an ovolo pattern in relief on the rim. It is a wide plate, according to the diameter of the mouth, and dates to the early 1^st century A.D. A similar sample has a yellowish red slip. As in the gray slip sample, its rim is decorated with an ovolo pattern in relief, and the contours of the shape is much softer. It is possible that the change in colour is due to firing, or that it is an imitation considering the simple changes in the shape. An identical comparative sample could not be located in other centers.

Plate 2

Agrandir Original (jpeg, 152k)

28.SBK.2010.76

Rim Diam.: 29 cm. h: 4.9 cm.
Clay: 10 YR 4/1 Dark gray.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 YR 4/1 Dark gray.
Date: Early 1^st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 28

29.SBK.2010.76

Rim Diam.: 30 cm. h: 3.1 cm.
Clay: Core 2.5 YR 5/8 Light red, rims 10 YR 5/6 yellowish brown.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 5 YR 5/6 Yellowish red.
Date: 6^th century A.D.

Pl. 2: 29

Terra Sigillata (Pl. 2: 30-40)

17 Domżalski 2007: 176.

17Terra Sigilatta, often seen in this period, is frequently found at the Balatlar Church in Sinop. These simple-shaped wide plates are spread across the northeast Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Although isolated, samples were also discovered in many Black Sea settlements17.

18 Phanagoria samples: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig.(...)

18They are defined as ESA imitation Pontic sigillata in the Black Sea basin and are dated to the 1^stcentury A.D.18. Similar in shape, the gray slip ware trays with thicker walls are dated to the late 1^stcentury A.D. The following three samples should be an imitation produced in the Black Sea basin.

30.SBK.2011.563

Rim Diam.: 19 cm. h: 2 cm.
Clay: Core 7.5 YR 5/2 Brown, outer side 5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 4/6 Red.
Similar: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Hayes 2008: Fig. 1, 7, 9, p. 124-125, Fig. 23, 753, p. 196; Warner Slane 1990: Fig. 11, 124, p. 60-61.
Date: 1^st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 30

31.SBK.2010.129

Rim Diam.: 20 cm. h: 1.9 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/4 Light brown.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/8 Red.
Similar: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Hayes 2008: Fig. 1, 7, 9, p. 124-125, Fig. 23, 753, p. 196; Warner Slane 1990: Fig. 11, 124, p. 60-61.
Date: 1^st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 31

32.SBK.2011.6

Rim Diam.: 30.8 cm. h: 2.2 cm.
Clay: Core 2.5 Y 4/0 Pink, outer side 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Innerand outer surface slip 10 R 4/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 29, 905, pp. 212-213. Date: Late 1^st century B.C.

Pl. 2: 32

19 Zhuravlev 2009: 25.
20 Belbek samples: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, 5, Form 2, 3, 5, 18, 19, p. 34-35, 39.

19Plates with a vertical rim (Pl. 2: 33-35), widespread in the Black Sea basin, are among the Pontic sigillata19. The number of plates are of similar proportions to sherds of other shapes. This plates have got angled and raised rim. Sigillata of this form are dated to the 1^st century A.D.20.

33.SBK.2010.41

Rim Diam.: 25.6 cm. h: 3.5 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/8 Red, surfaces are very eroded.
Similar: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, Form 2, 19, pp. 3435; Laflı and Kan Şahin 2012: p. 58-59.
Date: 1^st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 33

34.SBK.2012.220

Rim Diam.: - h: 2.3 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/8 Red.
Similar: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, Form 2, 18, p. 3435.
Date: 1^st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 34

35.SBK.2011.565

Rim Diam.: 24 cm. h: 2.4 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Light red.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10R 4/4 Red.
Similar: Zhuravlev 2009, Fig. 5, Form 3, 5, p. 39.
Date: Late 1^st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 35

21 Krapivina 2010: 266.
22 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 87, 151, p. 455; Olbia samples: Krapivina 2010: Pl. 163, E-52, p.(...)

20Another plate shape is the flat based (Pl. 2: 36), thin and elegant walled, glossy slip sigillata. Its small mouth diameter isstriking. The mouth diameters of this shape of vessels are usually wider. Considering its shape and slip characteristics, it could be an ESB imitation. It is known that this shape is an Anatolian production21. The shape, as in the plates with vertical rims, dates to the 1^st century A.D.22.

36.SBK.2012.124-186

Rim Diam.: 11 cm. h: 2.1 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1973: Pl. 87, 151, p. 455; Krapivina 2010: Pl. 163, E-52, p. 266.
Date: 1^st century A.D.

Pl. 2: 36

23 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 91, 220, p. 465-466.

21One of the most common bowl shapes is the thin, grooved rim bowls (Pl. 2: 37). This sherd has incised transverse lines on a grooved rim. They date to a later period, ca. 2^nd-3^rd centuries A.D.23.

37.SBK.2012.224

Rim Diam.: 12.2 cm. h: 3.7 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Calcite and mica.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/8 Red.
Similar: Hayes 1973: Pl. 91, 220, p. 465-466.
Date: 2^nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 37

24 Zhuravlev 2002: 245.
25 Neapolis, Tanais, Myrmekion samples: Zhuravlev 2002: Fig. 4, 3, p. 246.

22The last bowl shape is the typical ESC (Pl. 2: 38). This shape is known to be the production of Çandarlı and is found in manysettlements along the Black Sea coast24. The upper part protruding from below the rim is hemispherical in shape. The upper body of the sherd, dated to the first half of the 2^ndcentury A.D.25, is missing.

38.SBK.2012.356

Rim Diam.: 9.8 cm. h: 3.1 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 8/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 4/6 Red.
Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 25, 794, p. 200; Zhuravlev 2002: Fig. 4, 3, p. 246.
Date: First half of the 2^nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 38

23Jugs (Pl. 2: 30-40) are obtained in two different shapes - the rims of both make a triangular projection extending outwards from the rim. However, in one of the samples, the rim is more vertical and the transition to the body offers a wider curve. There is an incised letter ‘A’ on another thicker walled jug. These marks can be considered as potters’ marks.

39.SBK.2011.205

Rim Diam.: 8.2 cm. h: 10.4 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand and mica.
Surface: Inner surface slip 5 YR 5/6 Red and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red. Incised letter ‘A’ on the body.
Date: 1^st-2^nd centuries A.D.

Pl. 2: 39

40.SBK.2011.555

Rim Diam.: 5 cm. h: 1 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Temper: Sand, mica.
Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR4/8 Red.
Date: 1^st- 2^nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 40

Thin-walled ware (Pl. 2: 41-42)

26 Anderson-Stojanovic 1992: 35-36; Hayes 1997: 96; Riley 1979: Fig. 104, 520.
27 Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig. 50-51, 1603, 1608, p. 267-268

24Thin-walled jugs and mugs have been widespread in all centers dominated by Roman Empire sincethe early Roman period. This group of vessels, abundant in eastern Mediterranean, Italy and Eastern Europe, can be distinguished through its thin walls. However, it shares its decoration features with other vessel shapes. The thin walls and decoration types suggest that they are made in imitation of metal vessels26. The sherds discovered during the excavations at the Balatlar Church in Sinop are fragments of jugs and mugs. The rim and handle of a small-sized jug was also retrieved. This sample dates to the first half of the 2^nd century A.D. Among the more widely encountered jugs, one of the sherds, which dates to the 2^nd century-mid 3^rd century A.D., has its rim and a small part of the handle27.

41.SBK.2011.460

Rim Diam.: 4 cm. h: 7.7 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/6 Reddish yellow.
Temper: Sand.
Surface: Inner ve outer surface 10 YR 3/1 Dark gray.
Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 50, 1603, p. 267.
Date: First half of the 2^nd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 41

42.SBK.2012.224

Rim Diam.: 8.6 cm. h: 1.8 cm.
Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Temper: Calcite.
Surface: Inner and outer surface thin slip 5YR 4/1 Dark gray.
Similar: Hayes 2008: Fig. 51, 1608, p. 268.
Date: 2^nd century A.D. - mid 3^rd century A.D.

Pl. 2: 42

Late Roman Period Pottery Finds

25The Bath and palaestra complex which is dated to the Roman period, has been used as a Church in the Late Roman Period, that is why ceramic finds belonging to Late Roman period are also found in large numbers. Red slip ware forms and clay lamps have a significant place among the other pottery finds.

Red Slip Ware (Pl. 3: 43-54)

26The high-quality sigillata slips were replaced with matt slips of lesser quality starting from the Late Roman period. The same forms continue to be used. The ‘Late Roman Red Slip Ware’ contains a diverse set of vessel shapes. This group of wares is especially abundant among the finds. They are found over a long time span, from the 4^th until the 7^thcentury A.D.

28 KassabTezgör2010: Pl. 53, Cat. 37, p. 194.

27In the first sample of the deep plates (Pl. 3: 43), it can be seen that the rim is jutted to receive the lid. Below the jut, there are incised lines with wide spaces left in between. There are approximately seven rows of impressed decorations of small roulette patterns. Roulette decorations are very widespread in this period. Similar sherds to this 4^th century A.D. sherd were discovered during the Demirci amphora workshop excavations near Sinop28.

Plate 3

Agrandir Original (jpeg, 134k)

43.SBK.2011.563

Rim Diam.: - h: 4.6 cm.
Clay: 5 YR 5/8 Yellowish red.
Temper: Sand and calcite.
Surface: Inner surface slip 2.5 YR 5/4 Reddish brown and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red.
Similar: Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 53, Cat. 37, p. 194.
Date: 4^th century A.D.

Pl. 3: 43

29 KassabTezgör2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, p. 190.
30 Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325.

28Among the deep plates, the group with flat rims (Pl. 3: 44-47), which make a sharp turn in the transition to the body, dated to the late 4^th - early 5^thcentury A.D.29, is the most common group. There is no footed sample among this wide mouth plates. However, when compared with similar samples30, it can be seen that this type of plates are low footed.

44.SBK.2011.433 Rim Diam.: 21.6 cm. h: 3.7 cm. Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Light red. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190. Date: Late 4^th - early 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 44
45.SBK.2012.460 Rim Diam.: 18.2 cm. h: 2.8 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink. Temper: Calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R4/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190. Date: Late 4^th - early 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 45
46.SBK.2011.596 Rim Diam.: 19.2 cm. h: 3.2 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR4/6 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190. Date: Late 4^th century A.D. - early 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 46
47.SBK.2011.596 Rim Diam.: 21.2 cm. h: 2.8 cm. Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR5/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972, Fig. 65, 1, p. 325; Kassab Tezgör 2010, Pl. 50, Cat. 11, 190. Date: Late 4^th century A.D. - early 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 47

31 Pompeiopolis samples: Domżalski 2011: Fig. 10-11, Fig. 3, 2.10;Çandarlısamples: Hayes 1972: Fig.(...)

29The most common shape among the ‘Late Roman Red Slip Ware’ is the similarly rimmed wide bowls and plates. In this type of vessels (Pl. 3: 48-54), the rim usually juts outwards and makes a groove where it joins the body. The body then narrows towards the foot. In some of the sherds, there are two or three rows of roulette decorations on the rims. There is a small hole in the body of one of the sherds. This hole is most likely a repair mark. This shape, based on similar vessels, can be dated to the 5^th-6^th century A.D31.

48.SBK.2011.205 Rim Diam.: 18 cm. h: 4.3 cm. Clay: 10 R 5/8 Red. Temper: Sand. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 5/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 10, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 21, p.191. Date: 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 48
49.SBK.2011.6 Rim Diam.: 21.6 cm. h: 2.3 cm. Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red . Temper: Sand and calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 10, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 18, p.191. Date: 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 49
50.SBK.2011.606 Rim Diam.: 28.8 cm. h: 3.2 cm. Clay: 10 R 6/6 Red . Temper: Calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 6/6 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 14, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 18, p.191. Date: 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 50
51.SBK.2011.205 Rim Diam.: - h: 2.8 cm. Clay: 10 R 4/8 Red. Temper: Calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 10 R 5/6 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 14, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 18, p.191. Date: 5^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 51
52.SBK.2011.6 Rim Diam.: - h: 2.4 cm. Clay: 2.5 YR 5/8 Red. Temper: Sand and calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red. Similar: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 16, p. 337; Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 51, Cat. 23, p.192. Date: Late 5^th - early 6^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 52
53.SBK.2011.255 Rim Diam.: 22 cm. h: 3. 6 cm. Clay: 2.5 YR 6/8 Açık red. Temper: Sand, mica and calcite. Surface: Inner and outersurface slip 2.5 YR 5/8 Red. Similar: Domżalski 2011: Fig. 10-11, Fig. 3, 2. 10; Hayes 1972: Fig. 71, 4. Date: 6^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 53
54.SBK.2011.205 Rim Diam.: 28.4 cm. h: 2.8 cm. Clay: 2.5 YR 4/6 Red. Temper: Calcite. Surface: Inner and outer surface slip 2.5 YR 5/6 Red. Burn mark on rim. Similar: Kassab Tezgör 2010: Pl. 52, Cat. 34, p. 193. Date: 6^th century A.D.	Pl. 3: 54

Oil Lamp (Pl. 3: 55)

30One late Roman clay lamp was discovered (Pl. 3: 55). The lamp, the spout and body of which was preserved, has its upper body decorated with poured reddish yellow paint on top of a thin beige colored slip. The embossed projection around the discus joins with the edge of the nozzle. The lamp fragment can be dated to the 6^th-7^th centuries A.D. based on the width of the discus hole and the shape of the nozzle.

55.SBK.2011.135

Length: 7.1 cm. h: 4.4 cm.
Clay: 7.5 YR 7/4 Pink.
Temper: Sand, calcite, mica and shamotte.
Surface: Inner and outer surface 5 YR 6/8 Reddish yellow on top of clay paint color.
Date: 6^th-7^th centuries A.D.

Pl. 3: 55

Conclusions

31It is too early to draw conclusions from the finds of the excavations at the Balatlar Church in Sinop, considering that only the third season has been completed yet. However, based on these finds, it can be said that, typical shapes of the period exist here, as in other settlements across the Black Sea. On the other hand, while some Hellenistic shapes of high-quality black slip ware are considered to be imported, various Roman period shapes could be local. Although the pottery workshops around Sinop are from an earlier period, their existence support this hypothesis. It is not surprising for a port city like Sinop for various sigillata shapes of the Black Sea to be discovered here. It is presumed that, forthcoming excavations will reveal more detailed proofs.

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Bibliographie

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Angelescu, A. V. and Bâltâc, A., 2002-2003: “Sondajul ‘a’ din basilica episcopalâ de la Histria”,Pontika 35-36: 85-123.

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Notes

1Drews 1976: 18.31.

2Sinop Tarihi ve Kültür Envanteri 2013: 64.

3Köroğlu 2011: 65-76; 2012: 313-324.

4Histriasamples:Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5 and p. 42, 87, 90, 117;AthensAgorasamples:Rotroff 1997: Fig.6263, 966-967, 980, 1000, p. 338-339;Khersonesos samples: Zolotarev2005:Fig.4, 8, p. 197-198.

5 Panskoye samples: Kašaev 2002: Pl. 101, C 218, p. 159; Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 52, 59, 740, 866, p. 318, 329; Neapolis samples: Zajcev 2005: Fig. 4, 33, p. 269.

6 Kašaev 2002: 159.

7 Olbia samples: Bilde 2010: Pl. 170, F 12, p. 277.

8 Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 50-51, 710, 717, p. 315-316.

9 Handberg and Petersen 2010: 236.

10 Histria samples: Angelescu and Baltac 2002-2003: Fig. 5, Cat. 4, p. 88; Panskoye samples: Hannestad et al. 2002: Pl. 63, B 88, p. 127-149; Athens Agora samples: Rotroff 1997: Fig. 4, 6, 36-46, p. 85; Khersonesos samples: Zolatarev 2005: Fig. 5, 2-7, p. 203.

11Athens Agora samples: Howland 1958: Pl. 10, 15, 38, 311, 434, p. 73-74, 101-103; Olbia samples: Højte 2010: Pl. 323,O-64,p. 432.

12Howland 1958: Pl. 49, 666, p. 169-170.

13Mitsopoulos and Leon 1991: 78-85.

14Slane Wright 1980: 135-177; Slane 1986: 271-318.

15Hayes 1995: 185-196.

16Slane 1980: 168.

17 Domżalski 2007: 176.

18 Phanagoria samples: Domżalski 2007: Fig. 11, a, p. 176-177; Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig. 1, 23, 29, 7, 9, 753, 905, p. 124-125, 196, 212-213; Korinth samples: Warner Slane 1990: Fig. 11, 124, p. 60-61.

19 Zhuravlev 2009: 25.

20 Belbek samples: Zhuravlev 2009: Fig. 3, 5, Form 2, 3, 5, 18, 19, p. 34-35, 39.

21 Krapivina 2010: 266.

22 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 87, 151, p. 455; Olbia samples: Krapivina 2010: Pl. 163, E-52, p. 266.

23 Korinth samples: Hayes 1973: Pl. 91, 220, p. 465-466.

24 Zhuravlev 2002: 245.

25 Neapolis, Tanais, Myrmekion samples: Zhuravlev 2002: Fig. 4, 3, p. 246.

26 Anderson-Stojanovic 1992: 35-36; Hayes 1997: 96; Riley 1979: Fig. 104, 520.

27 Athens Agora samples: Hayes 2008: Fig. 50-51, 1603, 1608, p. 267-268

28 KassabTezgör2010: Pl. 53, Cat. 37, p. 194.

29 KassabTezgör2010: Pl. 50, Cat. 11, p. 190.

30 Hayes 1972: Fig. 65, 1, p. 325.

31 Pompeiopolis samples: Domżalski 2011: Fig. 10-11, Fig. 3, 2.10;Çandarlısamples: Hayes 1972: Fig. 68, 71, 4, 10, 14, 16, p. 337;Demircisamples: KassabTezgör2010: Pl. 51, 52, Cat. 18, 21, 23, 34, p. 191.

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Table des illustrations


		Titre	Fig. 1
		Légende	Black Sea basin and location of Sinop.
		URL	http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-1.jpg
		Fichier	image/jpeg, 200k

		Titre	Fig. 2
		Légende	Plan of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).
		URL	http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-2.jpg
		Fichier	image/jpeg, 800k

		Titre	Fig. 3
		Légende	View of The Balatlar Bath and Palaestra Complex (Balatlar Church).
		URL	http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-3.jpg
		Fichier	image/jpeg, 1,3M

		Titre	Plate 1
		URL	http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-4.jpg
		Fichier	image/jpeg, 180k

		URL	http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-5.jpg
		Fichier	image/jpeg, 24k

		Titre	Plate 2
		URL	http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-6.jpg
		Fichier	image/jpeg, 152k

		Titre	Plate 3
		URL	http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/docannexe/image/289/img-7.jpg
		Fichier	image/jpeg, 134k

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EdaGüngör Alper,« Hellenistic and Roman Period Ceramic Finds from the Balatlar Church Excavations in Sinop between 2010-2012 », Anatolia Antiqua [En ligne], XXII | 2014, mis en ligne le30 juin 2018, consulté le13 avril 2025.URL : http://journals.openedition.org/anatoliaantiqua/289 ;DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/anatoliaantiqua.289

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