La céramique islamique d’Apamée de Syrie. Histoire de l’occupation du Quartier Nord-Est du XIIe au XIVe siècle

This book presents the Islamic‑period ceramic assemblage from the archaeological excavations carried out in the north‑eastern area of Apamea by the Belgian Archaeological Mission (Université libre de Bruxelles) since 2002. These investigations yielded an imposing bath‑complex dated from the 2nd to the 7th centuries, which was occupied during the Islamic period as a residential and manufacturing area. We particularly focus on the occupation dated to the Middle Islamic period (12th‑14th cent.), when the sector was occupied by a modest, but intensive, domestic installation, which provided notable evidence of contemporary material culture.This work aims to provide, for the first time, a general overview of the ceramic types produced and distributed in the Middle Orontes region during this period, with the support of reliable archaeological documentation. Moreover, a broad framework of the role played by Apamea within the socio‑political context of Northern Syria during the Islamic period is also provided, with particular attention given to the organisation of the ancient city during the Islamic period, generally not mentioned in written sources. The first part of this book presents the context within which this material has been found: the historical context and the archaeological context. Chapter I.1 (Fig. 1‑2) provides a general overview of the geographical and historical context of Apamea from the Arab conquest in 16 H / 636 AD to the Ottoman period. This chapter underlines the role played by the city as strategic military outpost for the control of Northern Syria. Apamea, and especially its citadel, mentioned in written sources from the 10th cent., met the interest of the different political powers involved in the region. During the 10th and 11th centuries it was under the influence, alternatively, of the Hamdanides, Byzantins and Fatimids ; the citadel was later conquered by the Crusaders (guided by Prince Tancred) in 499/1106 and was included in the Principality of Antioch. From 544/1149, when Nur al‑Din, chief of the Zenkid dynasty, reconquered the city, Apamea remained under Muslim control, supervised by local governors (frequently attached to the Aleppo district) that administrated it for the Ayyubid and later Mamluk authorities. Western and Arab written sources do not mention the presence of a residential installation within the ancient city of Apamea ; they rather describe this part of the city as a ruined and abandoned area. Apamea is also known during the Islamic period for its fertile lands, rich in plantations and breeding farms, as well as for its lake. Chapter I.2 (Fig. 3‑16) provides a detailed description of the archaeological context (authors: Nicolas Paridaens & Michaël Vannesse). The bath complex of the north‑eastern quarter of Apamea shows evidence of different phases of occupation dated to the Early Islamic and Middle Islamic period. The sector was occupied at this time primarily by a domestic installation, but evidence of manufactory activities has also been detected. Phases 1 and 2, dated to the Early Islamic period, attest to the reutilisation of the space of the bathroom. The original function of the sector is completely abandoned and few parts of the complex are occupied and reorganised at this time. The residential nature of the new occupation becomes more clear and homogeneous from Phase 3 onwards. The original spaces of the complex are rearranged and generally reduced in order to create smaller roofed rooms where frequently one or more tannurs are installed. Between Phases 3 and 7, attributed to the Middle Islamic period (12th‑14th century), the area is subjected to several transformations, sometimes influenced by the collapse of some structures (probably caused by seismic events) ; a major redistribution of the space, followed by an intensification of the occupation, has been noted in Phase 6. The area also included some manufactory spaces. Except for the bread production, most likely connected to an inner consumption, other activities have been detected, mainly related to the transformation of cereals. In the northern area a limekiln has also been identified, belonging to Phase 7. The end of the occupation of the thermal complex is caused by the complete collapse of the main vaulted room, probably caused by one of the earthquakes that affected Syria during the 14th cent. The second part of this book presents the ceramic assemblage. Chapter II.1 (Pl. 1‑12) presents the ceramic finds within their context of discovery. The material is discussed phase by phase, in order to determine typological and morphological transformations and evolutions of the repertoire. This presentation is combined with quantitative and chronological data. The material is divided, in each phase, following a functional grouping: glazed wares, mainly employed as tableware, are firstly presented, followed by cooking wares and then by unglazed wares that generally covered different uses (storage, transport, preparation of food). At the end of the chapter, a general discussion on differences and similarities detected in the ceramic assemblage of each phase is presented. This study not only enabled the creation of a chrono‑typology for the assemblage documented in Apamea, but also allowed the dating of archaeological layers and the distinction between two main chronological horizons for the Middle Islamic occupation of the sector: Phases 3‑4‑5 (late 12th‑13th cent.) and Phases 6‑7 (late 13th‑14th cent.). Chapter II.2 (Pl. 13‑51) presents the ceramic typology documented in Apamea for the 12th‑14th centuries. Each category is discussed in detailed. First of all, we provide information concerning attestations of each type in other sites of the Bilad al‑Sham in order to set the material in a broader geographical context ; we later present the assemblage from Apamea, discussing its specific features: surface treatment, fabric, shapes and functions. A chronological evaluation is provided at the end of each paragraph. Categories are divided by functional groups (glazed wares, cooking wares and unglazed wares). The ceramic assemblage from the north‑eastern area of Apamea is mainly made up of common glazed and unglazed productions, employed for domestic purposes. Most of the material presents similarities in fabric features: glazed and cooking wares generally present an iron rich red body, while unglazed wares have a calcareous porous beige body. Even if archaeological evidence of ceramic production at Apamea has not yet been detected, we assume that most of this material was locally produced. Few imported objects have been identified (slip painted glazed wares, handmade cooking wares and big jars). Some sherds of siliceous ware are documented. The categories identified on the site include: Type 1: Slip painted glazed ware (Pl. 13‑20) Type 2: Green or colourless monochrome glazed ware (Pl. 21‑23) Type 3: Incised glazed ware (Pl. 24‑25) Type 4: Turquoise glazed ware (Pl. 26) Type FW: Siliceous glazed ware, fritware (Pl. 27) Type BW: Brittle Ware (Pl. 28‑31) Type C: Handmade cooking ware (Pl. 32‑33) Type A: Handmade geometrically painted ware (Pl. 34‑45) Type B: Moulded ware (Pl. 46‑47) Type B2: Beige Ware (Pl. 48) Type D: Beige‑orange ware with red painting (Pl. 49) Even if residual, we also provide here a general presentation of the material dated to the Early Islamic period (Pl. 50‑51). The study of the ceramic assemblage yielded from the archaeological context has clarified and enriched our knowledge of ceramic production and distribution in the Middle Orontes valley, providing innovative data especially on common wares. It has also provided new information concerning the nature of residential occupations and the organisation of lands and settlements during the Islamic period in the region of Apamea.