DOI article:
Krogulska, Maria: A ceramic workshop in the western quarter of Palmyra
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26418#0054
Maria Krogulska
*
A CERAMIC WORKSHOP IN THE WESTERN QUARTER OF PALMYRA
The Polish Archaeological Mission has been excavating the western part of the
ancient city of Palmyra since 1959 T This part of the town was named the Diocletian’s
Camp2. The western area of this quarter, the so-called Forum has been explored
between 1961 and 1963. The wall of the Great Gate and part of the Great Gate
itself, the wall of the portico parallel to the former one and the connecting platform
were succesively discovered3. To the northwest of and between the portico and the
gate, pseudo-polygonal walls of a building from the 1st cent. A.D. were disco-
vered4.
The building consisted of 6 rooms, five of these arranged in a row running from
south to north, and numbered correspondingly. The sixth room (numbered 11)
was attached to the southernmost of the row from the east. Along the other ones,
a probable courtyard (nr 12) stretched (cf. the plan). The kilns were discovered in
the “courtyard”, dug in its surface (fig. 1). They were certainly built later than the
building and oriented along the NE-SW axis5. The wall of the Great Gate and the
wall of the portico are later than the lst-century building and the kilns6.
During the 1974 - 1975 seasons additional work was carried out in enclosure 12.
We were most interested in the floors between the kilns 1-2-3 (fig. 1, 2). Four layers
of mud- bricks were found between kilns 1 and 2, and partly in front of kiln 3
1 K. Michałowski, Palmyre, Fouilles Polonaises, 1959 - 1964, I - V, Warszawa 1960 -
1966; M. Ga wliko wski, Palmyre VI. Le temple palmy renien, Warszawa 1974; M. Gawlikowski,
Remarks on the Ramparts of Palmyra, ,,Studia Palmyreńskie” VI and VII, 1975, p. 45.
2 The term „Diocletian’s Camp” was introduced by Th. Wiegand et al., Palmyra. Erge-
bnisse der Expedition von 1902 and 1917, Berlin 1932, p. 85; M. Gawlikowski, Obóz Dioklecjana
w Palmyrze, w: Studia z Archeologii Azji Przedniej i Starożytnego Wschodu, Kraków 1970,
pp. 37 - 39.
3 K. Michałowski, Palmyre, Fouilles Polonaises 1962, IV, Warszawa 1964, pp. 9 - 26,
51 - 52, 119 - 143; K. Michałowski, Palmyre, Fouilles Polonaises 1963 - 1964, v, p. 10 ff.; M.
Gawlikowski, 1970, o. c., p. 40.
4 Michałowski, 1962, pp. 11 - 26, 51 - 52, pi. I; Michałowski, 1963 - 1964, pp. 10 - 14,
pi. I.
5 Michałowski, 1962, pp. 22- 24, 51, pi. I; In the excavation diary (p. 6 of typescript)
they are described as potter’s kilns. Michałowski 1962, p. 20 — the kilns are built of wide, flat
bricks. Their shape reminds of tiles.
6 Michałowski, 1962, pp. 26 - 39, 51 - 52.
43
*
A CERAMIC WORKSHOP IN THE WESTERN QUARTER OF PALMYRA
The Polish Archaeological Mission has been excavating the western part of the
ancient city of Palmyra since 1959 T This part of the town was named the Diocletian’s
Camp2. The western area of this quarter, the so-called Forum has been explored
between 1961 and 1963. The wall of the Great Gate and part of the Great Gate
itself, the wall of the portico parallel to the former one and the connecting platform
were succesively discovered3. To the northwest of and between the portico and the
gate, pseudo-polygonal walls of a building from the 1st cent. A.D. were disco-
vered4.
The building consisted of 6 rooms, five of these arranged in a row running from
south to north, and numbered correspondingly. The sixth room (numbered 11)
was attached to the southernmost of the row from the east. Along the other ones,
a probable courtyard (nr 12) stretched (cf. the plan). The kilns were discovered in
the “courtyard”, dug in its surface (fig. 1). They were certainly built later than the
building and oriented along the NE-SW axis5. The wall of the Great Gate and the
wall of the portico are later than the lst-century building and the kilns6.
During the 1974 - 1975 seasons additional work was carried out in enclosure 12.
We were most interested in the floors between the kilns 1-2-3 (fig. 1, 2). Four layers
of mud- bricks were found between kilns 1 and 2, and partly in front of kiln 3
1 K. Michałowski, Palmyre, Fouilles Polonaises, 1959 - 1964, I - V, Warszawa 1960 -
1966; M. Ga wliko wski, Palmyre VI. Le temple palmy renien, Warszawa 1974; M. Gawlikowski,
Remarks on the Ramparts of Palmyra, ,,Studia Palmyreńskie” VI and VII, 1975, p. 45.
2 The term „Diocletian’s Camp” was introduced by Th. Wiegand et al., Palmyra. Erge-
bnisse der Expedition von 1902 and 1917, Berlin 1932, p. 85; M. Gawlikowski, Obóz Dioklecjana
w Palmyrze, w: Studia z Archeologii Azji Przedniej i Starożytnego Wschodu, Kraków 1970,
pp. 37 - 39.
3 K. Michałowski, Palmyre, Fouilles Polonaises 1962, IV, Warszawa 1964, pp. 9 - 26,
51 - 52, 119 - 143; K. Michałowski, Palmyre, Fouilles Polonaises 1963 - 1964, v, p. 10 ff.; M.
Gawlikowski, 1970, o. c., p. 40.
4 Michałowski, 1962, pp. 11 - 26, 51 - 52, pi. I; Michałowski, 1963 - 1964, pp. 10 - 14,
pi. I.
5 Michałowski, 1962, pp. 22- 24, 51, pi. I; In the excavation diary (p. 6 of typescript)
they are described as potter’s kilns. Michałowski 1962, p. 20 — the kilns are built of wide, flat
bricks. Their shape reminds of tiles.
6 Michałowski, 1962, pp. 26 - 39, 51 - 52.
43