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Archaeologists in Türkiye’s Sanliurfa province have unearthed a nearly 900-year-old ceremonial pot at the ancient site of Harran, recognized as one of the world’s oldest settlements and listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List.
The artifact, discovered during excavations at the historic Harran Madrasah, is about 20 centimeters deep and features Arabic inscriptions along its surface, including the signature of its maker.
The pot was produced using the lusterware technique, a sophisticated ceramic method that involves multiple firings to create a shimmering metallic glaze.
Professor Mehmet Onal, head of the Harran University Archaeology Department and leader of the excavation, noted that the madrasah once served as an important center of learning. He said this is the first fully intact example of lusterware found in Harran.
According to the excavation team, the pot dates to the Zengid and Ayyubid periods in the 12th century A.D.
Onal emphasized that Harran is frequently cited in historical records for its continuous habitation over thousands of years. He added that each find in the madrasah sheds new light on the city’s role during the medieval Islamic period, with this discovery reflecting the peak of regional ceramic craftsmanship.
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