Ceramics of the Ottoman period from Ɖakovo (Croatia): classification, morphology, and technology

Description

Other (English)

Archaeological background 

At the Đakovo – Biskupija site, the remains of the Gothic Cathedral of St. Peter were investigated archaeologically on three occasions: 1992, 2018–2019, and 2022. Excavations were conducted by the Regional Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Osijek and the Archaeological Museum Osijek. The construction of the cathedral dates to the late 13th - early 14th century. During the 18th century, it was renovated in the Baroque style and remained in use until the late 19th century, when it was demolished due to structural instability and the construction of the new cathedral. A diverse assemblage of small finds recovered during the excavations spans a broad chronological range, from the 13th to the late 19th - early 20th century. Ceramic material was identified in a total of 69 stratigraphic units – 7 fills and 61 archaeological layers (mostly leveling or collapse layers).

At the Đakovo – Spomen muzej biskupa J.J. Strossmayera site, a rescue archaeological excavation conducted in 2019 by the Archaeological Museum Osijek revealed the remains of a suburb (suburbium) located to the north of the former episcopal fortress. Within the fills of the investigated archaeological features, various archaeological material was found, broadly dated from the 15th to the 17th centuries. Ceramic finds were recorded in 15 fills and 2 archaeological layers (both of which were leveling layers).

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 (see the folder ‘Ɖakovo_photographs of ceramics’). At studied sites in Ɖakovo, all three glazed wares share a common macro-fabric, defined by a surface colour and visible inclusions in cross sections (Tables 1 and 2; folder ‘Ɖakovo_cross sections of ceramics’).

Coarse wares were defined based on macro-fabrics and modelling techniques. Domestic Ware 1 (DW1) is characterised by the use of hand-turning wheel, identified through irregular wheel marks and fingerprints, and the presence of coarse inclusions visible in cross-sections that, likely calcite (the folder ‘Ɖakovo_cross sections of ceramics’ ƉB03, ƉB10, ƉB15, ƉB17, ƉB25, ƉB26, ƉB27). Ceramics of Domestic Ware 4 (DW4) were handmade and characterised by porous texture and poorly sorted inclusions (Table 2). The numbering of domestic wares for the Đakovo assemblage follows that established for Sremska Mitrovica (Živković, Bikić & Lučić 2026), with the aim of standardising the classification of coarse wares across the Middle Danube region.

Grey Polished Ware is the only fine unglazed ware in the assemblage. It is distinguished by its specific morphology and characteristic grey macro-fabric.

In addition to wares, ceramics were classified according to functional forms. Common pottery forms include bowls, dishes, jugs, jars, lids, cooking pots, baking pans, and baking bells. 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.

Ceramic vessels (either ƉBxx or ƉSxx) were defined based on the presence of diagnostic sherds (rims, bases, spouts, and baking bells). 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 sites were dated to the 17th century based on analogies with ceramics from the Belgrade Fortress (Bikić 2003).

Other (English)

Dataset Structure

This dataset includes several files and folders.

Table 1 lists all ceramic vessels found at both sites in Ɖakovo. Each vessel (coded as either ƉB or ƉS) 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: Ɖakovo_photographs of ceramics, Ɖakovo_drawings of ceramics, Ɖakovo_cross sections of ceramics.

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

The folder ‘Ɖakovo_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. ƉBxx_photo).

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

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