Abstract
This paper focuses on the functional analysis of Swifterbant pottery from North-western Europe (ca. 4300–4000 BC) through lipid residue analysis. The main aim is to understand the role of pottery in terms of its relation to hunter-fisher-gatherer lifestyle, and the change in available food resources brought about by the arrival of domesticated animal and plant products. We conducted lipid residue analysis of 62 samples from three Swifterbant sites S2, S3 and S4. A combined approach using both GC-MS and GC-C-IRMS of residues absorbed into the ceramic was employed to identify their context. Our results demonstrate that Swifterbant ceramics were used exclusively for processing aquatic resources. We also found no evidence of inter-site variation in the use of pottery or variation based on both typological and technological features of the pottery. We found no evidence for any domesticated resources despite their presence in the faunal and botanical assemblages.
Highlights
In many parts of Europe, the transition to farming and the start of pottery production occurred at the same time and both innovations are often considered to be part of a ‘Neolithic package’ (Barker 2006; Gronenborn 2007; Bailey and Spikins 2008)
A major economic transition is seen only later, with the introduction of TRB (Trichterbecherkultur) pottery, at ca. 4000 cal BC Here, we investigate the relationship between economic practices and material culture by undertaking the first lipid residue analysis of Swifterbant ceramics to determine their use
Our current study underlines the relevance of combining lipid residue analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis for the functional interpretation of ceramics, and it clearly outlines an avenue for future research
Summary
In many parts of Europe, the transition to farming and the start of pottery production occurred at the same time and both innovations are often considered to be part of a ‘Neolithic package’ (Barker 2006; Gronenborn 2007; Bailey and Spikins 2008). 4300 cal BC, respectively (Raemaekers 1999, 2003; Louwe Kooijmans 2003) These groups are commonly termed the ‘Swifterbant culture’ due to their distinctive material culture, with sites often located in wetlands, between the Scheldt valley (Belgium) and Lake Dümmer (Lower Saxony, Germany) (Raemaekers 1999; Amkreutz 2013). Unlike most other parts of Europe, the adoption of farming in this region did not necessarily lead to large-scale changes in material culture or economic practices. 4000 cal BC (ten Anscher 2012; Raemaekers 2012) Here, we investigate the relationship between economic practices and material culture by undertaking the first lipid residue analysis of Swifterbant ceramics to determine their use. A key question is whether Swifterbant ceramics were associated with domesticated animal and plant foods once these became available or whether culinary practices remained essentially unchanged and continued to reflect the hunter-fisher-gatherer economy
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