Ornamented Stucco Fragments From Hosap Castle in 2017 Excavation Season

Abstract

Hosap Castle is located in Eastern Anatolia, Gurpinar town in Van, in Hosap (Guzelsu) which is on Van-Hakkari highway. It has reached today in the form as it was built, according to the inscription in 1643 (H. 1052) by Mahmudi Seigniory affiliated to Ottoman Empire In this paper, plaster objects which were found at 2017 in Hosap Castle Excavation will be analyzed. Most of the plaster objects that found previous seasons were excavated from harem part of the castle. But the stucco ornaments found in the summer season of 2017 have found buried under the ground west side of the castle, near the West tower. They must be removed from walls or were unused material. They consist of different compositions and techniques with geometric and floral motifs. Early and Classical Ottoman motifs were dominant yet late period motifs are also observed. Tulip, poppy, clover, straw (saz) leaves are some of these motifs. These compositions and motifs are composites and motifs that reminiscent of the Ottoman Westernization Period. They were made with a qualified labor in capital style rather than rural style. Although it is understood from the excavation that there were lots of different compositions but analysis of the compositions in the rooms could not be done due to inconveniences in excavation system. However niche arches and window parts were also found during excavations. It was observed that some of the findings were painted.