Southern Lydia encompasses the foothills of the Tmolus range down to the Gediz river valley. The metamorphic mountains of the Menderes Massif define the region’s southern edge, and the weathering of its constituent schists, marbles and gneisses result in outcrops of smooth non-calcareous clays (Neff and Glascock 1997; Scott and Kamilli 1981, 689 and references in n. 26 to geological studies of the Sardis region). This region has been home to the manufacturing of high quality vessels and tiles since antiquity, and is still today the locale of dozens of clay tile manufacturers.
Chemical analyses of vessels from Sardis, which was the region's largest city throughout antiquity, have determined that the majority of that site's potter...
The interior of vessels made of this petro-fabric generally fire to a bright orange-red (10R 5/8 to 2.5YR 6/8). They are generally micaceous, very dense, and quite clean.
Southern Lydia encompasses the foothills of the Tmolus range down to the Gediz river valley. The metamorphic mountains of the Menderes Massif define the region’s southern edge, and the weathering of its constituent schists, marbles and gneisses result in outcrops of smooth non-calcareous clays (Neff and Glascock 1997; Scott and Kamilli 1981, 689 and references in n. 26 to geological studies of the Sardis region). This region has been home to the manufacturing of high quality vessels and ti...