Ancient Gordion

Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) reveals that Phrygian ceramics from Gordion, modern Yassıhöyük, were produced in diverse workshops across a wide area rather than centralized at the site. This challenges the long-held view of a powerful, unified Phrygian state and suggests a decentralized sociopolitical structure with elite competition and incipient group identity formation, particularly during public feasts. The study synthesizes data from decades of excavations, including previously unpublished results, to trace ceramic provenance and exchange patterns across Anatolia, offering new insights into Iron Age group dynamics and power practices.

Morgan, K. R. (2024). Ancient Gordion. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 12(3), 333–339. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.12.3.0333