BYZANTINE GLASS SAMPLES BELONGING TO SEASONS OF 2017-2020 IN KUSADASI, KADIKALESI EXCAVATION
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The excavations carried out in Kadikalesi on the south coast of Kusadasi have provided rich archaeological data to Byzantine glass research after twenty years. The finds also shed light on vessels likely to have been transported through the port of Anaia and thus, an important commercial production center of the Middle Ages. Among the glasses, those with original forms and top-class workmanship are in the majority. In addition to these, there are also medium quality ones for daily life with their blurred colors. It is very difficult to distinguish the mixed materials of the Medieval Ages production from the glass that belongs to the use of the building among the glasses scattered all over the castle, including the church. However, the fragments from the bema and the church's baptistery in recent years are at a level that refreshes our knowledge on this subject. As the earthquake debris in front of the monumental church's bema was removed, findings of the windows and lighting of the church were found. Similarly, another few glass finds that may be associated with the space came just below the topmost building layer while excavating the Early Christian Baptistery, which had been opened in recent years to the northwest of the church. Many glasses in the castle are the result of mass production to order. The archaeological data has shown that Kadikalesi's magnificent church housed glass workshops after an earthquake thought to have occurred in the mid-thirteenth century. Therefore, glass production in Kadikalesi/Anaia existed in a process that continued from the mid-thirteenth century to the early fourteenth century. The glasses that we assume were used in the castle, on the other hand, are distinguished from the others by their physical qualities as well as their structural content. These glasses differ in terms of color as well as being simpler in production, fuzzy and matte appearance. However, the aspect that gives the biggest clue about whether the glasses were for production or use are the places where they were found and other finds that were found in these areas. As a matter of fact, the glass fragments found during excavations were often found with metal parts such as chains, hangers, or layers of mortar. Kadikalesi glasses are examined under three headings: commercial, daily life and grave finds. In terms of numerical value, most of the finds are produced with glass. Apart from the mass-produced glass, mostly glass artifacts for individual use were found from the burials removed from many areas of the church. Glass finds are again divided into three groups in terms of their functions: lighting, daily use, and ornamental objects. Among these groups, the fragments of window glass and oil lamps were found, which were mostly used for lighting. Afterwards, glass pieces for daily use and ornamental purposes such as bracelets, glasses, bottles, goblets, and bowls come respectively. In this article, it is aimed to introduce and evaluate the mentioned Byzantine glass finds, which can be usage devices from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries, with examples from the last four excavation seasons of the Kusadasi, Kadikalesi/Anaia Excavation.