Quantifying prestige pottery consumption; or, a study on the formation of Red Lustrous Wheelmade Ware assemblages at Uşaklı Höyük in the heart of the Hittite Empire

Abstract

This article presents the contribution of ongoing excavations at Uşaklı Höyük to the study of consumption behaviors of Red Lustrous Wheelmade Ware (RLW) within the core region of the Hittite Empire in central northern Anatolia during the Late Bronze Age. Notably, these luxury, imported vessels, became an integral component of ceremonial practices from the Middle Hittite period onward, signaling a shift in pottery consumption patterns, particularly in relation to ritual behaviors. Through a critical assessment of the impact of vessel use-life and site formation processes in shaping the RLW ceramic assemblage, and by adopting a critically engaged approach to quantification strategies, this study examines the incidence of RLW in relation to contemporary ceramic production across different functional contexts and settings where RLW is attested. Based on new data from Uşaklı Höyük, contextualized within the Hittite core area, the analysis highlights patterns of spatial distribution, depositional variability, and differential preservation. These factors contribute to a more refined understanding of RLW circulation and use within Hittite society. While storage and discard contexts account for a substantial portion of the currently available evidence, the assemblage from Area F at Uşaklı Höyük offers an unprecedented perspective on a context of ‘active’ use within a specialized ritual setting.