Figure 12: Bone inlays.

Figure 13: Pieces of incised black-polished jars with raised lozenge-shaped decoration.

Figure 14: A bronze pin of well known type from the east end of the 'Palace Complex' and a bronze fibula once decorated with multiple studs.

Figure 15: A polished and perforated stone harness trapping.

POST-EXCAVATION STUDY

Understanding the 'Palace Complex'
Last year's excavation at the eastern end of what has very tentatively been called the 'Palace Complex' included the recovery of a group of complete pottery vessels and lids from the floor of the smaller of the two rooms in Structure C (Fig. 10). This year Noël Siver was able to reconstruct these unusual vessels (Fig. 11). They comprise a small two-handled pithos, a large conical bowl which turned out to have two bands of thick white paint on the outside and further paint on the base and handles, and two large flat lids with single handles. These coarse vessels were hand-made, all but the pithos being fired at a fairly low temperature. The large bowl was smoothed to a burnish on the inside, the pithos and the lids on the outside. The same room contained one fine juglet (Fig. 10) and fragments of several others, the remainder of which may perhaps await excavation in the other half of the room. The purpose of these large vessels and lids, and therefore the function of the room in which they were found, is enigmatic. Samples have been taken from this pottery in the hope of finding traces of organic residue that might provide further clues. Of an altogether different order are the small bone inlays (Fig. 12) which were perhaps set into small wooden containers. Both plain petal-shaped and square inlays bearing delicate incised decoration, all discoloured by fire, were found. The same room also yielded a small number of Cornelian cherry stones. Whatever precise interpretation might be placed on the contents of the room, a domestic context would appear to be most unlikely.

The narrow space between Structure D and Structure A was crammed full of broken pottery that, in addition to the funnel and tripod bowl illustrated last year, included several hand-made, red ware jugs with cut-away beak spouts. In 2001 Noël was able to restore one complete example (Fig. 16) and partially to reconstruct several others. Although these jugs are all of the same general shape they are not of a standard size and exhibit some variation in the precise form of the spout and handle.

Charred timbers found last year in Structure D turned out to be Oriental Beech which is not suitable for dendrochronological, i.e. tree-ring, dating.

Special Sherds and Particular Objects
Distinctive pieces provide valuable clues concerning cultural connections even when, like the following examples, they derive from secondary contexts. Several fine jugs of black-polished relief ware (Fig. 13) are represented by small fragments. Similar pieces of this exotic pottery are known from Gordion, Boğazköy and Kaman Kalehöyük, although it is never common and its source is unknown.

Other diagnostic objects include an incomplete two-pronged bronze pin with a double looped head and an incomplete bronze fibula (Fig. 14), both of well known type and a perforated stone harness trapping (Fig. 15).

Marks, Signs or Letters
The foundation and administration of this great city, as well as that of the territory that fell under its rule, would have required written communication and record keeping. The first evidence for written language at Kerkenes has been found in the form of 10 marks (Figs 16 and 17), most or all of which appear to be letters, incised into the surface of pottery vessels recovered from the...