Pottery Archaeology

ADVERTIMENT. La consulta d’aquesta tesi queda condicionada a l’acceptació de les següents condicions d'ús: La difusió d’aquesta tesi per mitjà del servei TDX (www.tdx.cat) i a través del Dipòsit Digital de la UB (diposit.ub.edu) ha estat autoritzada pels titulars dels drets de propietat intel·lectual únicament per a usos privats emmarcats en activitats d’investigació i docència. No s’autoritza la seva reproducció amb finalitats de lucre ni la seva difusió i posada a disposició des d’un lloc aliè al servei TDX ni al Dipòsit Digital de la UB. No s’autoritza la presentació del seu contingut en una finestra o marc aliè a TDX o al Dipòsit Digital de la UB (framing). Aquesta reserva de drets afecta tant al resum de presentació de la tesi com als seus continguts. En la utilització o cita de parts de la tesi és obligat indicar el nom de la persona autora.

This paper examines the interplay between manufacturing parameters and material properties in archaeological ceramic cooking ware. While previous studies on material properties have focused on the response of ceramic vessels to mechanical and thermal loads, emphasis is placed here on thermal properties and their influence on the suitability of a vessel to be used for different cooking methods. We illustrate how the material properties of a ceramic cooking vessel are influenced by its manufacture and how these material properties in turn may influence the performance and ultimately selection of certain vessels to be used for specific cooking practices for the example of late Bronze Age (LCIA) cooking vessels from Akrotiri, Greece.

Archaeological science adopts scientific techniques from different fields, such as biology, chemistry and geology, and applies them to the study of the human past. Even though there are many books with archaeological activities for children available, these are restricted to archaeological excavation, typological methods and other ‘traditional’ archaeological approaches with minimal, if any, reference to archaeological science methods. This is the gap that the current booklet aims at filling. The activities presented focus on familiarising students with basic methods in two broad fields: • Bioarchaeology (the study of organic remains, such as human and animal bones, and plant remains) • Archaeological materials and material culture (ceramics, glass, metals) For each activity, we provide the age range of the students to be involved; however, these ranges are only general approximations and it is up to the teacher to determine which students can participate in each activity or parts o...

At the outskirts of the Roman town of Tongeren (Belgium), a potters’ work-shop dating to the Flavian period has been excavated. The site not only yielded waste material associated with the pottery production but also a find assemblage (cultural artefacts and organic consumption remains) that can be linked to the daily life of the potters themselves. This combination of finds enables to analyse the material culture of this specific group and to discuss their status and background. It was observed that the material culture of the potters did not differ from the material culture excavated elsewhere in town, a conclusion that seems logical as artisanal activity can almost be found throughout the entire town. In general, for the Flavian period, the material culture, as well as the consumption remains resulting from it, reflect different living standards in the administrative centre Tongeren compared to rural settlements. This brings into question the theory that Tongeren was exclusively ...

The paper deals with the database of advanced Middle Bronze Age decorated pottery (“Appenninico”), a peculiar type of ceramic that was the focus of the 1959 Puglisi’s book presenting a corpus implemented in the following years till 1995. A Roma Tre seminar was dedicated to the updating of this corpus, giving birth to a geodatabase that we hope to convert soon in a WebGis

Résumé/Abstract Dated and stratified potsherds excavated at Nabta Playa belong to the earliest phase of pottery-making in the Sahara—relatively sophisticated bowls decorated with a toothed wheel. The authors explore the origins of post-Pleistocene settlers in the ...

Il sito di Vaccarizza si trova sul lato sud della valle del Celone nel territorio di Troia, 8 km in direzione nord-est, nella località Monte Castellaccio (fig. 1). La sua identificazione si deve a J. Bradford, che visitò l’insediamento alla fine della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, grazie alla lettura di una serie di fotografie aeree compiute dall’aviazione inglese. In questo lavoro lo studioso inglese riuscì a individuare la presenza di una motta con bassacorte (moat and bailey castle), senza tuttavia riconoscere il resto dell’abitato sepolto sul pianoro circostante. Il riconoscimento del sito è stato anche determinato dalla persistenza del toponimo della città, ancora oggi attestato in una particella di territorio situata in prossimità dell’insediamento, dove si trova la Masseria Vaccareccia. Secondo le testimonianze scritte la “città” è teatro di un conflitto tra Bizantini e Normanni agli inizi dell’XI secolo. Il sito è probabilmente in crisi verso la fine del XII secolo e viene lentam...

The finds of wheel-made Iranian and Central Asian pottery, including transport flasks, in early nomadic burials in the South Urals and Trans-Volga regions have already attracted the attention of scholars. The reason for writing this article was a new find of such a flask in the South Urals, as well as the discovery by the author of an Aramaic inscription on a flask from the Temir Burial-mound in the South Trans-Urals, which the authors of the 1986 publication did not pay attention to. The author draws attention to flasks with a biconvex (flattened-spherical) profile of the body (asymmetric), to which belong, in particular, a flask from the Temir Bur-ial-mound and a new find – a vessel from the Burial-mound no. 1 of the Studenikin Mar group 3 – Vysokaya Mogila. If, until now, it was difficult to trace whether there are chronological peculiarities in the genesis of the flask forms, then an analysis of the context of the finds from the Early nomadic complexes of the South Urals give certain grounds to consider the flasks with a light engobe and a conventional-symmetric biconvex profile as earlier (no later than the last quarter of the 4th century BC) in comparison with the flasks with red engobe with a flattened-convex profile. An inscription with an indication of the volume, scratched on a flask from the Temir Burial-mound, does not provide grounds for a narrow dating of the flask, but allows to suggest that it was written in Chorasmia. Thus, if we proceed from the fact that the shape of the pack flasks is of Iranian origin, apparently already in the middle or the third quarter of the 4th century BC the earliest samples of them come to the no-mads of the South Urals either directly from Iran or, more likely, in most cases through Chorasmia.

This paper, presents formally modelled date estimates for the sequence of Lengyel funerary pottery in western Hungary, eastern Austria and south-west Slovakia. It is an extension of the dating and modelling already carried out by the project, The Times of Their Lives (ToTL), on the major Lengyel aggregation, including burials, at Alsónyék-Bátaszék in south-east Transdanubia. The present study concentrates on furnished Lengyel graves, using the analysis of Lengyel funerary pottery from western Hungary, eastern Austria and south-west Slovakia. A full catalogue of the 121 pot types identified by István Zalai-Gaál is presented, and correspondence analysis of the occurrence of 113 of these types in 247 graves suggests a seriation for these grave-assemblages. The new radiocarbon dating programme for the sequence of Lengyel funerary pottery was designed within the framework of Bayesian chronological modelling. We aimed to provide formal date estimates for the use of different pot types and...

En este artículo presentamos las cerámicas comunes no torneadas de difusión aquitano-tarraconense (AQTA). A pesar de su aspecto tosco y aparentemente simple en lo tecnológico, conocieron una amplia difusión a lo largo de los siglos I al V d.C., adquiriendo el papel protagonista en los ajuares recuperados en los registros arqueológicos del litoral cantábrico, la Aquitania meridional y el valle medio del Ebro. Presentamos un estado de la cuestión sobre estas producciones, definiendo y caracterizando los grupos de pasta más difundidos en ambas vertientes del Pirineo, el repertorio tipológico y la difusión de cada tipo. Finalmente, señalamos las líneas futuras de la investigación sobre esta variedad cerámica.

We present results, analyses, and an in-depth historical contextualization of the fieldwork undertaken in 2012 and 2013 at the Kindoki site in the Lower Congo (DRC). This site is linked to Mbanza Nsundi, one of the Kongo Kingdom’s provincial capitals, which turns out to be archaeologically ‘elusive’. Pinpointing its location proved to be particularly challenging. To this end, a historically informed survey methodology was applied that has rarely been implemented on such a scale in Central Africa before. We combined a strategy of systematic test pits with a large-scale 50-m grid approach. A cemetery was identified on Kindoki Hill with distinct but probably contemporaneous quarters of a sixteenth–seventeenth-century settlement on both sides. The cemetery itself contains mainly eighteenth-century burials, in all likelihood of successive high-ranking Nsundi nobles, perhaps even of Nsundi rulers. The foreign, especially Portuguese, ceramics excavated on the hilltop and the hundreds of Venetian and likely Bavarian beads found in the graves are indicative of Mbanza Nsundi’s connection to trade routes linking the Atlantic coast with the Pool region. The most striking discovery is that of a previously unknown type of comb-impressed pottery, from a pit with a calibrated radiocarbon date of AD 1294–1393 (at 2 sigma). This suggests that a settlement had been developing at Kindoki since at least the fourteenth century, which allows us, for the first time, to spatially bridge Kongo history and “prehistory.” For the entire Lower Congo region, only three 14C dates posterior to AD 1000 were available before the start of our project; 12 have been added for just Kindoki. Nous présentons les résultats, les analyses et la contextualisation historique détaillée du travail de terrain entrepris en 2012 et 2013 sur le site de Kindoki situé au Bas-Congo (RDC). Ce site est associé à Mbanza Nsundi, l’une des capitales provinciales du royaume Kongo, qui s’est révélée ‘élusive’, c-à-d difficile à saisir archéologiquement. Localiser son emplacement s’est avéré être un vrai défi. Pour ce faire, nous avons développé une méthodologie de fouilles, basée sur des données historiques, qui n’avait pas encore vraiment été testée à cette échelle en Afrique Centrale. Nous avons appliqué une stratégie de terrain combinant des tranchées tests systématiques avec des carroyages à grande échelle de 50 m. Sur la colline de Kindoki, un cimetière a été identifié avec de part et d’autre des quartiers distincts, probablement contemporains, témoignant d’une occupation aux 16ème-17ème siècles. Le cimetière lui-même contient principalement des inhumations successives datées du 18ème siècle, très probablement celles de nobles Nsundi de haut rang, peut-être même des dirigeants Nsundi. Les céramiques étrangères, principalement portugaises, découvertes au sommet de la colline et les centaines de perles originaires de Venise et probablement de la Bavière trouvées dans les tombes révèlent la connexion entre Mbanza Nsundi et les voies commerciales reliant la côte Atlantique avec la région du Pool. Une découverte très intéressante concerne un type de poterie décorée au peigne imprimé qui était inconnu à ce jour et provient d’une fosse dont la date radiocarbone calibrée est de 1294–1393 AD (à 2 sigma). Ceci suggère qu’une implantation s’est développée à Kindoki depuis au moins le 14ème siècle et nous permet, pour la première fois, de rapprocher spatialement l’histoire et ‘la préhistoire’ kongo. Pour la région du Bas-Congo toute entière, seules trois dates 14C postérieures à 1000 AD étaient disponibles avant que ne débute notre projet. Nous disposons à présent de douze dates supplémentaires uniquement pour le site de Kindoki.

Introduction: the scope of this paper This paper, dedicated to the memory of István Zalai-Gaál, presents formally modelled date estimates for the sequence of Lengyel funerary pottery in western Hungary, eastern Austria and south-west Slovakia. It is an extension of the dating and modelling already carried out by the project, The Times of Their Lives (ToTL), on the major Lengyel aggregation, including burials, at Alsónyék-Bátaszék in south-east Transdanubia (OSZTÁS et al. 2016a; 2016b; BÁNFFY et al. 2016).

Pottery technology in the Early Iron Age remains understudied in Slovenian archaeology, especially in the combined use of description on a macroscopic level with the addition of petrographic thin sections analysis. In this study we focused on pottery technology of vessels from two Early Iron Age sites in north-eastern Slovenia, Poštela near Maribor and Novine above Šentilj (NE Slovenia). We analysed the clay pastes, inclusions in the clay, as well as surface treatment, firing properties, vessels shape, and decoration techniques using macroscopic description and ceramic petrography. Within the sites we looked at the different contexts, comparing pottery from settlements, i.e. hillforts, to pottery found within the adjacent cemeteries. The results show that potters from the two contemporaneous sites produced similarly shaped vessels using different pottery recipes from locally available raw materials. The use of grog as a possible chronological marker in the Early Iron Age is also dis...

Built from 1492 onwards, the Royal Hospital of All Saints became a model in public health and assistance. Its innovative concept is displayed through the adoption of European Renaissance architectonic proposals, and several other of its characteristics, all together bringing new habits to day-today life. The plan of the complex had the shape of a cross, with four yards on the corners, in which four wells provided water supply during the three century history of the building complex. This paper analysis the hydraulic structures of the Hospital revealed by the excavations in Praça da Figueira in 1960 and in 1999-2001, and cope the archaeological data with the different architectonic phases recognized through the project «Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos: a Cidade e a Saúde» research, considering their potential to explore functions and behaviours of the surrounding areas. RESUMO Fundado em 1492, o Hospital Real de Todos-os-Santos revelou-se paradigmático em Portugal no que à assistênc...

This book is a publication of a session held on the EAA Annual meeting in Thessaloniki. It covers a wide range of theoretical and methodological issues, such as: locating cemeteries in the landscape; age; gender and social relations derived from mortuary evidence, and also the chronological and spatial development of sites and the question of their continuity. The chronological span of topics is wide - from the Palaeolithic to the Iron Age; the geographical scope equally so, including vast regions of Europe from Belgium to Estonia, and from Italy to Scandinavia. New methods and approaches, such as ancient DNA analysis, advanced databases and Geographic Information Systems, are all taken into account. 160p, color and b/w figs, maps.

The influence of tempering on the mechanical performance of pottery is assessed. Emphasis is placed on the examination of the impact of temper shape (low vs. high sphericity) and extent of vitrification on the strength and toughness of the ceramic material. Measurements on experimental briquettes show that the replacement of platy phyllitic temper with bulky granitic temper results in a reduction in strength but, at least at very high firing temperatures, in an increase in toughness. The observed differences in strength reduction with different temper shapes is semi-quantitatively assessed by adapting the damaged zone model, developed previously to disk-shaped particles. The effect of temper shape on toughness is particularly pronounced at high firing temperatures, where platy temper results in significantly lower fracture toughness of the corresponding material.

The present study reports the results obtained through an archaeometric investigation on representative Early Bronze Age tripod vessels belonging to plain simple wares of Tilbeshar which is located almost 32 km southeast of Gaziantep (Turkey). The samples were characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), thin section (optical microscopy), FTIR (Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy), TG-DTA (Thermogravimetric Differential Thermal Analysis) and SEM/EDX (scanning electron microcopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy). The chemical composition of the samples showed that the potsherds possessed high amount of CaO indicating use of calcareous clays. Proving this data XRD, TG-DTA and FTIR analyses revealed the presence of calcite, as well. Considering the mineral/phase contents of the samples, the firing temperature of the potsherds was found to change in the range of 700-900C. The appearance of neo-formations for most of the samples suggested a firing temperature range of 800-900C for...

This paper discusses the basis of Neolithic periodization used in mainland Finland. It is suggested that the periodization should be revised: boundary between the Middle and Late Neolithic periods should be moved to correspond the appearance of Corded Ware (ca. 2800 calBC), and a term Final Neolithic introduced to cover the final centuries of the Neolithic. This kind of division would reflect changes in the cultural development better than the currently used one. In addition, the chronological frames for the pottery types dated between the late 6th and mid-4th millennium calBC, i.e. the Early Neolithic and the beginning of Middle Neolithic, are presented.

An intact archaeological context named Locus 1 has recently been discovered at Dehesilla Cave (southern Spain). The ritual funerary deposition consists of a complete pottery jar with part of a human calvarium over the mouth, and was occulted by large stone blocks. This paper offers a presentation of the new data provided mainly by the stratigraphic, osteological, pottery, lithic and radiocarbon analyses. A systematic review of the relevant evidence in the Iberian Peninsula during the Early Neolithic (c. 5600–4800 cal BC) provides a context for this finding and supports its interpretation with reference to several possible anthropological scenarios.

The study of technology transfer in pottery production to the periphery of the Mycenaean world has been addressed by considering two different areas, southern Italy and central Macedonia. Technological features such as ceramic paste, decoration and firing have been determined for different ceramic groups established according to provenance criteria. The studies of technology and provenance have been performed following an archaeometric approach, using neutron activation analysis, petrographic analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results have revealed the existence of two different models. On the one hand, southern Italy seems to exhibit a more organized pottery production, which follows a Mycenaean-like technology, while in central Macedonia production is probably more varied, being based in part on the technology of the local tradition.

ABSTRACT In 1822, a devastating town fire sealed a large ceramic assemblage from a store in the town of Oulu in northern Finland. Excavations of the merchant’s stock recovered over a hundred kilograms of ceramics that was almost entirely composed of undecorated creamware, a ware and decorative type whose popularity had faded significantly by the 1820’s. The assemblage reveals the global complexities in the international ceramics trade in the early nineteenth century, provides insight into some of the mass-produced commodities reaching geographically peripheral markets, underscores distinctive European market influences, and illuminates marketing and social practices that shaped consumption in markets like Oulu.

During extensive field work, different aspects of the large Tripolye settlement Stolniceni I in northwest Moldova were investigated by an international team. These investigations allow a reassessment of these population agglomerations from the first half of the 4th millennium BCE in Moldova and their comparison with more eastern Tripolye sites. The investigations carried out in 2017 included the completion of the archaeo-magnetic survey of the settlement and the targeted archaeological excavations of various types of contexts. Besides the investigation of a ditch enclosing the site and test trenches in different parts of the settlement, the excavations focused mainly on two areas in the north of the settlement: On the one hand, excavations were carried out in a pottery production complex, including the uncovering of a pottery kiln, several pits and a dwelling. On the other hand, one specific ‘ash-mound-like’ anomaly was investigated which are arranged in regular intervals at the per...

During the Late Bronze Age, the Iron Age and early medieval period (c. 600 BC – AD 1250) settlement at Vik in the Ørland peninsula emerged, flourished, vanished and emerged anew. Local landscape and vegetation development, cross-regional cultural developments and global climatic events were of great significance to the farmer-fisher communities at Vik throughout these periods. In this book, results from the 2014-2016 archaeological excavations at Ørland main air base have been refined and developed. The 13 papers deal with landscape, vegetation and environmental aspects related to the excavated settlement, as well as the spatial and social organization of the built environment. Building traditions, disposal practices, the form and representation of everyday objects, subsistence and landscape use are central to the discussions.

UNLIKE MANY OTHER PREHISTORIC HUNTER-GATHERER CULTURES, the Jomon culture (c. 12,500-2300 B.P.) in Japan is characterized by the production and use of pottery (Pearson 1990, 1992). The great antiquity of Jomon pottery, the oldest of which is dated to 12,700 B.P., has attracted the attention not only of archaeologists working on East Asia but also researchers who investigate the origins of pottery in world prehistory. Nevertheless, for many Japanese archaeologists, the primary goal of studying Jomon pottery has been to establish a detailed chronology of the Jomon period. From the pioneering studies of Yamanouchi (1937, 1939, 1964) to the present, typological study of pottery has figured predominantly in the investigation of the Jomon culture. Since Yamanouchi's initial classification, pottery types have been further subdivided, and these units have subsequently been further refined. Today, most Jomon researchers agree on a basic typological ordering of Jomon pottery (see the chro...