Technological choices and practices in local ceramic production at Iron Age Monte Iato (Sicily, 6th-5th century BCE)

Abstract

The study explores technological choices and practices of Iron Age pottery production at Monte Iato (Sicily, southern Italy). A set of 76 specimens from the central cult place of the site (600–450 BCE) and belonging to functional categories of serving and consumption of food and drinks, food preparation, cooking and storage were analyzed using macroscopic, mineralogic and petrographic methods. As proxy data, the results revealed varied and multi-layered practices, that do differ in regard to raw material procurement, clay processing as well as firing techniques but at the same time are to some extent linked together through the constant use of grog as temper – a practice detectable over the entire use of the cult site of over 100 years, the use of similar forming techniques, surface treatments and decoration operations.