General Information

First, the ware is defined by Garstang (1953) as "Cilician Painted", which he discovered at Mersin-Yumuktepe excavations. Seton-Williams, who conducted survey in Cilicia, defined the ware as "Amuq-Cilician Painted Ware" as it is distributed in Amuq Region as well (Seton-Williams 1953). Studies on the Middle Bronze Age Syrian pottery (Tubb 1981; Gerstenblith 1983; ) demonstrated that the ware is also found at Syrian sites, like Ebla outside Amuq Valley. Accordingly, the name "Syro-Cilician Painted pottery" is proposed. However, while giving these names, it is not taken into consideration, whether the painted pottery in question is locally produced or imported. Therefore, the distribution area of this pottery does not reflect the production area but the distributed area. The ware is distributed to Central Anatolia, Cilicia, Northern Syria and Cyprus. 

Syro-Cilician Painted Ware is accepted as the most distinctive ware of the Middle Bronze Age. However, it is part of the assemblages, which consist of mainly unpainted pottery. It actually reflects a painted surface of an already existing unpainted ware. Main forms are plain rim bowls, carinated bowls, deep bowls, bowls with pedestal foot, plain rim jugs, trefoil jugs, hole-mouth jars, jars. Paint is usually geometric but figural motives also exist. Geometric motives are irregular lines, horizontal parallel bands and lines; vertical or diagonal lines, chevrons, "butterfly" and "eye". Figural motives consist of mainly horned animals like goat or birds.Paint color is red, reddish-brown, brown, dark brown, black. There are both handmade and wheel-made examples. 

In Sirkeli Höyük this ware has two types: 

1. Ware: Red Gritty Ware (Red fabric, white grits)

Forms: Jugs, jars (i.e. closed vessels)

Slip: Cream slip

Paint: Reddish-brown

Motives. Geometric

Production technique: Hand-made

2. Ware: Standard Ware (Buff fabric, white and black grits)

Forms: Bowls, jugs, jars

Slip: Thin self-slip

Paint: brown, dark brown, black

Motives: Geometric

Production technique: Wheel-made

Amuq-Cilician Painted (Seton-Williams 1953)

Syro-Cilician Painted (Tubb 1981; Gerstenblith 1983)

Bronze Age Painted (Goldman 1956)

Painted Cilician (Garstang 1953)

Cilician Hittite (Garstang 1953)

Pre-Hittite Painted (Garstang 1953)

Sirkeli Höyük (Turkey/Eastern Mediterranean)