The Mass Production of Food Serving Bowls from the 4th to the 1st Millennium BCE at Arslantepe (Türkiye)

This diachronic study focuses on the mass production of bowls across various socio-cultural contexts to compare and examine production practices during the Late Chalcolithic and the Early Iron Age periods at the site of Arslantepe (Türkiye). We found that mass production met various needs such as efficiency, consistency, and accessibility. By comparing typological data, coefficients of variation, as well as archaeometric and technological data, our study highlights the complex relationship between mass production, standardization, and specialization, as shaped by historical contexts and artisanal production practices.