Break down and correlate the scenes: A first step in interpreting the iconography of Arslantepe VIA glyptic through a quantitative approach

Of the 2191 clay sealings discovered in the Arslantepe palatial complex (Late Chalcolithic 5, 3400-3100 BCE), 2145 have been studied, leading to the reconstruction and illustration of original seal surfaces scenes. Used to secure goods and preserved for accounting purposes, the study of the seals has offered an overview of the administrative organization of the site. Previous empirical investigations by M. Frangipane, H. Pittman and colleagues (Frangipane M. ed. 2007) led to an iconographic classification of the seals into 18 distinct groups. To verify whether these groups can be confirmed using quantitative analysis methods, the raw descriptive information was transformed into a structured and analyzable data format and stored in a database. The subsequent application of multivariate statistical techniques (Correspondence Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis) has allowed for the exploration of relationships and patterns within the corpus, in an attempt to identify significant patterns. Within the broad diversity of iconographic elements and their characteristics, it has been possible to isolate meaningful groups that may offer new insights into the social dynamics and economic relationships in Arslantepe VIA.