Ceramic handles of Medieval cauldrons from South Kazakhstan: morphological features and chronology

Abstract

This article examines the morphological features, typology, and chronology of kitchen pottery – specifically, the handles of ceramic cauldrons – discovered at medieval settlements and archaeological sites in Kazakhstan. The relevance of this study lies in the limited research devoted to individual components of medieval ceramic ware, such as rims and handles. Systematic studies of medieval pottery in Kazakhstan began in the mid 20th century. In the early stages, research primarily focused on describing the stratigraphy of settlements and ancient towns, as well as analyzing ceramic complexes. However, the regional characteristics of cauldron types have not yet been the subject of specialized study. The aim of this study is to classify the cauldron-handle types found at medieval settlements in the southern regions of Kazakhstan (Syrdarya-Karatau, Shu-Talas, and Zhetysu) and to identify their similarities and differences in comparison with materials from Sogd, Fergana, and Western Kazakhstan within a chronological framework. The research employed morphological, stratigraphic, and historical-comparative methods, alongside grouping and typological classification. Archaeological materials from the specified regions serve as the primary dataset. The study also examines the manufacturing techniques of ceramic cauldrons (hand modeling and potter’s wheel production) and the composition of the clay paste (sand and crushed stone temper). Two principal morphological types of cauldron handles were identified: arc-shaped (bow-shaped) and crescent-shaped (semi-lunar). The earliest examples of these types appeared and became widespread in the 6th–7th centuries during the so-called “Kenger period”, including a specimen bearing a Sogdian inscription from Kulan. Arc-shaped handles and their modifications (twisted and triangular forms) were widely distributed in the Shu–Talas region (Taraz, Lower Baryskhan) between the 8th and 12th centuries. Over time, both the shapes of the handles and their attachment techniques became more refined, resulting in distinct regional variants. Radiocarbon dating of sites in the Talas region, where cauldrons with triangular handles were found, indicates a timeframe from the early 9th to the early 12th century. Isolated examples of multi-handled (four-handled) cauldrons have also been identified at sites such as Taraz and Aktobe-1. The presence of these vessels at specific centers suggests that they served not only utilitarian purposes but also decorative or representational functions. The study further addresses terminological issues arising from the variety of terms and comparative analogies used to describe the formal characteristics of cauldron handles. Comparative analysis confirms the existence of shared cultural elements associated with the migration of Oghuz tribes from the Syrdarya region to the Volga basin (Samosdelka) in the 9th century. It has been established that the main types of cauldron handles continued to be actively used in culinary contexts in the cities of Southern Kazakhstan up to the 15th century. The findings of this research enable to trace the developmental dynamics of regional pottery traditions in Kazakhstan.