Highland and foothill pottery production technologies: A perspective from the third millennium BCE from Southwest Anatolia (Türkiye)

Abstract This article presents the results of a fabric study spanning a period of the first half of the third millennium BCE (ca. 3000–2400/2300 BCE) pottery from the highland and foothill areas of the Antalya region of southwest Anatolia, a region that has not been extensively investigated from a complementary analytic perspective. A total of 49 ceramic sherds from two archaeological sites were examined using thin‐section petrography, X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray fluorescence to determine their material characteristics. This research utilizes chemical and mineralogical data to investigate different phases of the Early Bronze Age across various landscapes within the same region, aiming to trace raw material selection and characterize pottery production technologies. Hacımusalar Höyük, representing the intermontane highland landscape, shows a selection of tempering primarily based on local geology. Bademağacı Höyük, typifying the foothill settings, also relies on local clay while displaying a broader range of inclusions and tempers. Neither site displayed a significant correlation between ceramic types and temper selections, preparation techniques and surface treatments. Despite the complex geology of the research area, natural inclusions are prevalent throughout the assemblage. These findings indicate that the inhabitants employed adaptive ceramic production strategies by targeting similar geological zones and utilizing comparable technologies, influenced by local environmental conditions and functional demands.