CERAMICS IN CIRCULATION: NETWORK ANALYSIS FROM THE OTTOMAN BALKANS AND AEGEAN

Abstract

This study addresses challenges in Ottoman archaeology, where sites and materials are often neglected due to the complex legacy of Ottoman heritage. The Ottoman Empire has left an lasting mark on the heritage of three continents. Yet, in many of the successor states, Ottoman heritage is seen as problematic, which has resulted in limited excavations and a sparse archaeological record for this period. In contrast, historical analyses of the Ottoman period provide significant insights into trade, economy, and global economic trends. Nevertheless, archaeology as a distinct discipline can reveal aspects otherwise inaccessible through historical analysis alone and has the potential to both support and challenge historical narratives.

This research examines the use of network analysis to reconstruct trade networks. Network models are constructed by using pottery from five cities: Belgrade, Sofia, and Varna in the Balkans and Mytilini and Izmir in the Aegean. They represent regions closest to the imperial capital of Istanbul and thus central to the Empire’s economy. These models are analyzed and compared with historical scenario on economic trends and trade routes. The findings reveal that while both historical and archaeological data capture broad trade patterns and shifts, archaeology uniquely uncovers site-specific connections and fills gaps for periods that lack historical records. It provides physical evidence for regional interactions undocumented in texts, which allows for new analyses.

Limitations remain, however, since some trade relationships leave no material trace, and the roles of middlemen are archaeologically invisible. These gaps highlight the need for multidisciplinary approaches to fully reconstruct trade networks. This research not only offers insights into Ottoman economic networks but also into a broader methodological discourse in archaeology. It demonstrates how network analysis can be employed effectively with limited archaeological data to uncover specifics not present in the historical narratives. This approach offers future researchers a way to combine archaeological evidence with historical records, improving our understanding of less-studied periods.