Introduzione

This paper presents a preliminary analysis of the inventory of so-called Alişar IV style pottery brought to light on the site of Uşaklı Höyük (Yozgat), in central-northern Anatolia. This specific production spread in a very circumscribed geographical and chronological context of Iron Age Central Anatolia. Thanks to the peculiar painted decoration of animal silhouettes, the pottery represents a clear marker of shared cultural traits. Stylized trees often appear among the silhouettes of deer and wild goats, while concentric circles occupy the background. In the light of Uşaklı Höyük new datasets, the paper offers an overview on the issue of origin, chronology, and organization of the ceramic production.