Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T19:05:55.801Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Archaeology of Achaemenid Power in Regional Western Anatolia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 October 2016

Peter Grave
Affiliation:
Archaeomaterials Science Hub, School of Humanities, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia Email: pgrave@une.edu.au
Lisa Kealhofer
Affiliation:
Anthropology/Environmental Studies, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA Email: lkealhofer@scu.edu
Nejat Bilgen
Affiliation:
Archaeology, Dumlupınar University, Kütahya 43030, Turkey Email: nejat.bilgen@dpu.edu.tr
Ben Marsh
Affiliation:
Geography and Environmental Studies, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA37091, USA Email: marsh@bucknell.edu

Abstract

The Achaemenids conquered Anatolia in the sixth century bce. However, in contrast to the historical descriptions of political response to Achaemenid control, e.g. the so-called ‘Ionian revolt’ of east Greek territories in Western Anatolia, the operation of Achaemenid-period economies in this region remains obscure. Only a handful of occupation sites in western Turkey provide archaeological data contemporary with Achaemenid rule. In this paper, we compare the results of compositional analysis on Achaemenid-period ceramics from a provincial centre, Seyitömer, with comparable analyses from similar periods at Sardis and Gordion. During the period of Achaemenid control a comparatively high level of compositional and typological diversity at this provincial centre suggests a surprising increase in regional connectivity, both locally and with East Greek and Greek centres.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)