Black Sea Change: A Revision of the Sinop Ceramic Chronology Using Luminescence Dating

Abstract

Fifty-nine ceramic sherds from eleven archaeological sites within the Sinop promontory of the Turkish Black Sea coast were dated by luminescence to establish a regional ceramic chronology. This absolute chronology was used to evaluate existing assumptions about the occupational history of the promontory and its relationship to the greater region, in both prehistoric and postcolonial periods. Lastly, the efficacy of the luminescence method was explored and advanced through the implementation of new and emerging techniques for dating pottery using luminescence and then for systematically determining the objective value and reliability of each date.