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The Anatolian Middle Bronze Age kingdoms and Alalakh: Mukish, Kanesh and trade

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2013

K. Aslıhan Yener
K. Aslıhan Yener
Affiliation:
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
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Abstract

The comparisons at the heart of this article concern the varying roles of cuneiform texts, instrumental analysis and artefacts at the Bronze Age capital of Alalakh, located in the northeastern Mediterranean region of southern Turkey. The production of fine artefacts, such as sophisticated metallurgy, glass, faience, ivory carving and, especially, bronze, was under palace patronage, while trade and the networks of inter-regional relations facilitated the transport of materials across great distances in the ancient Near East. Several lines of evidence suggest that exchange relationships between Alalakh and the Middle Bronze Age central Anatolian kingdoms, such as Kanesh, were established prior to the arrival of Hattusili I. One category of artefact, ivory and bone with metallic embellishments, is emphasised here since the crafting of ivory and bone entails the use of local resources, while the plating with precious metals reflects artistic expression and exploitation that is international in scope. Several analytical techniques are presented, such as lead isotope ratios, scanning electron microscopy and polarizing light microscopy, which have aided in defining the artistic expression of Alalakh and the production of artefacts of power and prestige.

Özet

Bu makalenin özündeki değerlendirme, Güney Anadolu'nun Kuzeydoğu Akdeniz kesiminde yer alan ve bir Bronz Çağ başkenti olan Alalakh'ta bulunan çiviyazılı metinlerin, buluntu analizleri ve insan yapısı nesnelerin değişik rolleri ile ilgilidir. Cam, fayans yapımı, fildişi oymacılığı, gelişmiş madenlerden ve özellikle bronzdan yapılan malların üretimi sarayın tekelindeydi. Diğer yandan bölgeler arası ticaret ve iletişim ağları malların tüm Yakın Doğu'da çok geniş bir coğrafyaya yayılmasını kolaylaştırmaktaydı. Bir dizi kanıt, Alalakh ile Kanesh gibi Orta Anadolu'nun Orta Bronz Çağı krallıkları arasındaki takas ilişkisinin, I. Hattusili döneminden önce kurulduğunu göstermektedir. Burada özellikle, üzeri madeni süslemeli fildişi ve kemik buluntu grubu üzerinde durulmaktadır. Fildişi ve kemik işçiliği yerel kaynakların kullanımını gerektirirken, değerli maden kaplama işi daha uluslararası ölçekte bir sanatsal bakış ve işçilik gerektirir. Alalakh'taki sanatsal bakış aşısı ile güç ve itibara yönelik nesnelerin üretimini tanımlamamıza yardımcı olmak üzere kurşun izotop oranları, taramalı elektron mikroskobu ve polarize ışık mikroskobu gibi çok sayıda analitik yöntem kullanılmıştır.

Type
Research Article
Information
Anatolian Studies , Volume 57 , December 2007 , pp. 151 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © The British Institute at Ankara 2007

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