Autour du gobelet maritime : les vases à cordon, gobelets linéaires et productions épicampaniformes du nord‑ouest de la France

Abstract

The definition of a ceramic production is a major challenge in archaeology, it must regularly be interrogated and updated. The case of the Bell Beaker phenomenon in Northwestern France give an obvious example: if observations focus on a typological study according to a bibliographical approach then the proposed classification show a relative monotony of the decorations on ceramic productions. A technological approach allows to go deeper into the question and go beyond this limit by bringing new elements to the debate: decoration techniques, firing process or building techniques to name only the most important criteria. Technological approach enriches the debate, allowing to decompose the different stream of influence that may have been observed on a vase or a ceramic tradition. It thus offers a study protocol capable of identifying more clearly the technical transfers, influences, copies and borrowings that punctuate the evolution of ceramic styles. We propose to combine typological, technological analysis and context review to formalize or redefine certain ceramic productions of northwestern France with diffuse boundaries dated to the second half of the third millennium. We will focus in particular on three types of vases: the vases à cordon, linear and linear beaker with grups of line and finally “épicampaniforme” vases. Questioning these productions makes it possible to weigh the various underlying social and economic implications of theses productions, to compare them with others well-identified productions such as maritime beakers or vases belonging to the dotted-geometric style. This will ultimately allow us to discuss the relationships between productions, and the validity of certain key concepts of Campaniforme.