Secret of ?znik tiles in kilns

The secret of coralline and turquoise colors in ?znik?s famous tiles has yet to be discovered, but works have started on historical kilns aimed at researching their origin This year?s archaeological excavations have started in the 600-year-old kilns found in the town of ?znik in the northwestern province of Bursa.  

Up to now, scientific research has yet to reveal the secret of the famous ?coral red? and ?turquoise? colors of ?znik tiles, and the current work is largely aimed at finding the secret of these colors. 

The ?znik tile ovens, which had been underground for centuries, were unearthed in 1967 during archaeological works led by Istanbul University Professor Oktay Aslanapa. 

Since 1994, works have been continued by the team led by Professor Ara Altun, of the same university. 

Following the recent excavations of ?znik kilns on the site, Aslanapa and Altun could clearly observe that the Ottoman ceramics in ?znik had a Seljuk background, according to the website of Turkey?s Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Turquoise was introduced during the 16th century, and the embossed red of the wall tiles of the mihrab of Süleymaniye Mosque (1555) are widely regarded as marking the peak of Ottoman tile and ceramic work.

During the Ottoman era, ?znik tiles and pottery were exported overseas via Rhodes, which was under Turkish rule at the time.

Longest-term excavations 

Tiles from the 11th to the 17th century that were found during excavations - which continue every year in July and August - are on display at the ?znik Museum.

This year works are being carried out in the region by a 20-person team headed by Istanbul University academic Assistant Professor Belgin...