The ceramic culture of Anatolia, with its deep-rooted history, serves as a significant medium for transmitting unwritten historical narratives through both artistic and scientific evidence. Archaeological and ethnographic data reveal that pottery is not merely a craft but also a crucial element of collective memory, identity, and cultural continuity. Despite the pressures of industrialization and changing production dynamics, traditional pottery centers in various regions of Anatolia continue to resist decline. One of the most remarkable aspects of Anatolian pottery is its archaeological continuity dating back to the Neolithic period. Pottery production began around 7000 BCE using hand-forming techniques, while the introduction of the potter’s wheel around 3000 BCE revolutionized production methods. However, the persistence of Neolithic pottery techniques in some rural production centers highlights the need to consider Anatolian pottery as not only an archaeological artifact but also a living cultural heritage. In this context, the Lakes Region, which carries the traces of prehistoric periods, is home to active pottery production centers that should be evaluated within the framework of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Situated at the heart of this region, Isparta is one of the few cities where traditional pottery continues to be practiced. The pottery workshops in Isparta today preserve historical continuity in terms of raw material selection and production techniques. This study examines the traditional pottery practices in a workshop located in central Isparta from a processual archaeology perspective, analyzing its production methods, socio-economic structure, and cultural heritage significance. Observations and field research conducted within this study assess the continuity and transformation of pottery production from the Neolithic period to the present day through an interdisciplinary approach.
Keywords: Lake District, Pottery, Isparta, process archaeology