The Ceramics of Balis: Toward the Recovery of Lost Heritage

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Identity, Interpretation, and Innovation: The Worlds of Islamic Archaeology" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This paper will present a major new analytical study of an important Islamic period archaeological ceramics assemblage produced during 12 years of excavation of Balis, a medieval Syrian city. With over 1,000 photographs and drawings produced over my 10 years as head ceramicist on the site, this study will be among the most comprehensive Islamic archaeological ceramics studies published to date. Balis was a ceramic manufacturing center with hundreds of kilns, and the study has the potential to transform our understanding of medieval Islamic ceramic production, use, and aesthetic value—particularly for early Islamic ceramics, about which is little known. Publication of this catalog is more urgent than ever because Balis has been under the control of various groups in the Syrian conflict, including ISIS, and looting has been extensive. This project, then—aside from its archaeological value—will form one contribution to cultural heritage preservation in a region endangered by war.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• Identity, Interpretation, and Innovation: The Worlds of Islamic Archaeology

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32216