A group of Medieval Byzantine ceramics (Zeuxippus - Type) unearthed at Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation and its pXRF analyses

The technique of sgraffito constitutes the main character of ceramic production in the Middle Ages, which covers vast geography, including Anatolia. One of the earlier studies providing data on this subject within the framework of Anatolian archeology is the excavations carried out by D.T. Rice in the Zeuxippus bath located in Sultanahmet, Istanbul, in the 1920s. Zeuxippus-type is generally known for their hard red-paste and glossy glaze layers. The most common type of decoration in this group are medallions surrounded by interwoven circular lines or circular borders. The scientific analyses carried out with pXRF showed that CaO content in the body varies between 7 – 20 wt%. And high amounts of iron and titanium exist as found in the previous studies carried out on Zeuxippus productions in Iznik.