Assessments on Chronology, Metrology, and Function of Mastoid-Shaped Weights

Abstract

In this article, we will examine mastoid-shaped weights, a somewhat underrepresented topic in the study of historical metrology. Initially, we will review the research that has been ongoing since the nineteenth century, assessing its contributions to the field. Following this, we will address three central debates encountered in this research area, revolving around the chronology of mastoid-shaped weights, their metrological system, and their function, offering insights through examples that have been previously published. Then, we will investigate two previously unpublished mastoid-shaped weights found in the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Pera Museum Anatolian Weights and Measures Collection, looking at them through the lenses of both chronology and metrology. Through this work, we hope to facilitate a deeper understanding of mastoid-shaped weights, supporting future identifications in Turkish museums and archaeological excavations and shedding light on their place in the historical metrology of the Eastern Mediterranean.