Glazed Ceramics of Bitlis Castle from the Medieval to Late Ottoman Period

Bitlis Castle excavations in 2022 werecarried out on the palace part, the bath area and the western city walls within the scope of restoration works. During the excavations, ceramics, bowls, cups, metal and glass finds were found. The ceramic finds that make up our subject range from the Middle Ages to the Late Ottoman period. Since it is not possible to follow the stratigraphy during the excavations, the data for dating is very limited. However, in addition to the paste, glaze and form features, the areas that can be deepened for the determination of the foundations of the city walls contributed to the understanding of the ceramics of the Bitlis Castle. Turkish-Islamic ceramics dating from the 12th to the 19th centuries provide important data on the economic, socio-cultural and commercial lifeof Bitlis Castle. The ceramics found during the 2022 excavations in Bitlis Castle, which is known to produce ceramics with a traditional understanding, also reflect the sources from which the regional culture is fed. In addition to the Anatolian Seljuks, Principalities and Ottoman Empire, Safavid examples are encountered in the ceramic finds, and their effects are felt in local examples. In our study, the glazed pottery finds of the Bitlis Castle 2022 will be examined, and the dating of the finds, production sites and cultural interaction will be emphasized. Inferences about the development of ceramic production and diversity in the region will also be mentioned.