A CASE STUDY ABOUT LATE BRONZE AGE BEAD PRODUCTION

In this study there will be detailed evaluation of the beads uncovered within the burials during the excavations carried out in the northern and western cemetery areas of Panaztepe that is situated on the delta of the Hermos River, to ca. 13 km to west of Menemen, Izmir and on the slopes of a natural hill at the northern side of a group of rock hills. Recently although it’s ca. 10 km inland from the Aegean Sea, Panaztepe is considered to be an island settlement with strategic position in the northern part of the Izmir gulf in the prehistory. The various burial types of such as tholoi, pithoi, cist grave, composite burials produced 2631 beads, 128 beads in spindle whorl form, 23 necklace fragment, 10 dress appliqués, 1 pendant, 2 cork formed objects and a fragment of chain. When it’s generally considered the beads are made of frit, agate, faience, coral and in lesser proportions steatite, limestone, volcanic crystal, amethyst, gold, glass, bone and amber. The beads can be examined under 23 subtypes according to their shapes. While the interiorchronologies of the tombs have not been completely distinguished, it is thought that most of these finds were used during the Late Helladic III A–B periods.