Institut arheologii Kryma RAN
Institut istorii im. Sh. Mardzhani AN RT
Archaeological researches at the Golden-Horde settlement of Solkhat and its immediate environs suppled ceramic ware showing epigraphic inscriptions in Arabic script or designs imitating them, originating from the layers from the late-thirteenth to the early-fifteenth centuries. These inscriptions contain a significant layer of information concerning the worldview, the level of cultural development and cross-cultural interactions, literacy and many other aspects of the life of the population of the Ulus of Jochi and neighboring countries and regions. The artistic design of the Golden Horde ceramic ware, along with geometric and plant patterns, similar to Islamic art in general, often use inscriptions in Arabic script in the styles of “naskh,” “kufi,” and “thuluth.” The history of the research of epigraphic inscriptions in Arabic script on ceramic ware is not very extensive. All the materials presented in this publication were discovered by archaeological researches in the capital of the Golden-Horde Crimea, the city of Solkhat (modern Staryi Krym). Among the finds there are fragments of open-type vessels with underglaze painting with white engobe (such as “Slip-painted Ware”), including inscriptions applied using this technique, individual Arabic letters or ornamental patterns imitating Arabic letters; stamped vessels showing relief embossed patterns in the form of Arabic inscriptions, designs or letters stylized as inscriptions, the stamps showing the potter’s name, also applied with a relief stamp; fragments of open-type vessels with an ornament stylized as Arabic inscriptions and made with the “sgraffito” technique; potteries featuring the inscriptions incised on raw or baked clay. The text of the inscriptions contains Koranic and good-wishing inscriptions, potters’ names, some drawings feature pseudo-epigraphic patterns, as the local potters probably transferred them from other vessels as such, but not giving semantic meaning. Among the ceramic ware, there are both locally produced and imported artefacts. The introduction of the Solkhat finds into scholarly circulation enlarges our notion of the level of literacy, culture, socio-economic ties and worldview of both the local population and the inhabitants of the Ulus of Jochi in general.
Golden Horde, Crimea, Solkhat, glazed pottery, transport pottery, table pottery, epigraphic design
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