Ceramics of the Ottoman period from Sremska Mitrovica (Serbia): classification, morphology, and technology

Živković, Jelena; Bikić, Vesna; Lučić, Biljana

doi:10.5281/zenodo.19091974

Published March 18, 2026 | Version v1

Dataset Open

Ceramics of the Ottoman period from Sremska Mitrovica (Serbia): classification, morphology, and technology

1. University of Tübingen
2. Institute of Archaeology
3. Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Sremska Mitrovica

This dataset contains information on archaeological ceramics from Sremska Mitrovica (Serbia), dated to the second half of the 17th century (Ottoman period). Sremska Mitrovica is a city located on the Sava River, in the Srem region. Between 1526 and 1718, Mitrovica was a regional centre in the northern part of the Ottoman Empire.

Ceramics presented here were found in two pits during recent rescue excavations at the street Stari Šor 91A (the geographical coordinates 44°58'20.94"N, 19°36'32.94"E), conducted by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Sremska Mitrovica (Lučić 2025, 23).

This archaeological study of ceramics was conducted in August 2025 at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Sremska Mitrovica. It aimed to classify, quantify, identify technological traits, and document ceramics from closed and well-defined contexts. The study integrated the macroscopic inspection of ceramics and the microscopic recordings of macro-fabrics.

This dataset offers the first insight into the ceramic consumption of Ottoman Mitrovica. Furthermore, the observed variability set the base for sampling for scientific analysis, aiming to reconstruct the ceramic production technology and provenance.

The study of Sremska Mitrovica’s ceramics is part of the DANUBE MSCA-PF project that addresses connectivity along the Danube, Sava, and Drava rivers during the Ottoman period. This is the first out of several datasets that will be published for sites included in DANUBE.

Dataset Structure

This dataset includes several files and folders.

Table 1 lists all ceramic vessels found in pits 6 and 11. Each vessel (coded as SMxx) is assigned to a ceramic ware (e.g. Monochrome Glazed Ware) and functional form (e.g. bowl). Furthermore, each vessel is described according to modelling technique (e.g. wheel-throwing), colour (Munsell notation), diagnostic fragments (e.g. rim), measurements (diameters of rims and bases as well as wall thicknesses), decoration (e.g. slips and glazes) and base details (e.g. high foot base). The remaining columns (P-R) in Table 1 provide information on available illustrations, which are stored as individual files in three separate folders: Photographs of ceramics, Drawings of ceramics, Cross sections of ceramics.

Table 2 presents description of the main ceramic wares. Wares are defined by traits of macro-fabrics, decorative styles, and modelling techniques (see the section Methods).

The folder ‘Photographs of ceramics’ contains images of all sherds identified as individual ceramic vessels in Table 1. File names combine the vessel code and image type (e.g. SMxx_photo).

The folder ‘Drawings of ceramics’ includes all available drawings prepared for representative pottery types. File names combine the vessel code and image type (SMxx_drawing).

The folder ‘Cross sections of ceramics’ contain images of ceramic cross sections recorded using a portable USB microscope Dino-Lite AM4113. Images were taken on fresh breaks, where applicable, without prior preparation. File names combine the vessel code and image type (SMxx_cross section).

Methods (English)

Methods

Ceramics were classified primarily according to wares. The classification of glazed pottery followed a widely used system for post-medieval pottery in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean that centres on decorative styles (Živković et al. 2021; 2024). Three main glazed wares were identified: Monochrome Glazed Ware (MGW), Slip Painted Ware (SPW), and Painted Glazed Ware (PGW). These wares were distinguished by different methods of slip and glaze application. At Sremska Mitrovica, all three glazed wares share a common macro-fabric, defined by surface colour and visible inclusions in cross sections (Tables 1 and 2; folder ‘Cross sections of pottery’).

Coarse wares were defined based on macro-fabrics and modelling techniques. Domestic Ware 1 (DW1) and Domestic Ware 2 (DW2) are both characterised by the use of a hand-turning wheel, identified through irregular wheel marks and fingerprints. These two wares are distinguished by traits of their macro-fabrics (Table 2). Domestic Ware 3 (DW3) is characterised by wheel-throwing and has the macro-fabric similar to that of glazed wares (Table 2). Other wares presented in Table 1 can be considered as miscellaneous.

In addition to wares, ceramics were classified according to functional forms. Common pottery forms include bowls, dishes, jugs, jars, cooking pots, lids, and baking pans. The assemblage also contains stove pots, which were used as structural elements of large heating stoves commonly employed in the Middle Danube region during the medieval and post-medieval periods. Two porcelain coffee cups were also recorded.

Ceramic quantification was conducted using minimal number of individuals method. Each vessel (SMxx) was defined based on the presence of diagnostic sherds (rims, bases, spouts, and lids). Where possible, rims and bases were associated with existing body sherds and features of complete vessels were reconstructed. In most cases, however, this was not possible due to the high degree of fragmentation.

Ceramics from both pits were dated to the second half of the 17th century based on analogies with ceramics from the Belgrade Fortress (Bikić 2003). The presence of several fragments of Late Roman Coarse Ware (LRCW) and the 18th-century Monochrome Glazed White Ware (MGWW) was attributed to the complex stratigraphy of the site, as the Ottoman horizon pits cut into the Late Roman layers, while the presence of MGWW is linked to the later urban modifications.

Files