Urartian «Palace Pottery» at the Khudutepe Settlement (Azerbaijan)

Abstract

The article presents samples of ceramic of the early Iron Age, found on the Khudutepe settlement in the Jalilabad district. In the course of archaeological excavations and during collecting of surface finds the so called «Palace pottery» of the Urartian state was discovered. «Palace pottery» («Toprakkale wares», «Van shards», «Bianili ceramics») – a term is used for monochromic ceramic wares (usually red burnished, bright cherry-coloured with a polished surface, made on a potter's wheel) of the Urartian state. The wares were found exclusively in fortresses, in small quantities, and belonged to the items, that were probably used, mainly, by the elite of the Urartian society. «Toprakkale wares» constituted just 5% of the total ceramic items of the Urartian state. Eight fragments of ceramic vessels of various shapes and purposes represent the materials. They probably belonged to two bowls, a cup/goblet, two trefoil jugs, two globular vessels. It should be noted, that ceramics of this kind are found for the first time in the southeastern region of Azerbaijan. Probably, «Bianili ceramics», revealed at Khudutepe, came here from the Urartian fortress in the territory of modern northwestern Iran, and it was a prestigious object for the local nobility, as presents and/or offerings and as pottery of one or another purpose. The finds of «Palace pottery» of the Urartian state confirm the ties of the ancient population of Azerbaijan with the Middle Eastern "Great Power" of that time.