United in our differences: The production and consumption of pottery at EM IB Phaistos, Crete

Abstract

Variability in ceramic classes and technological practice is discussed across the range of pottery produced at or near Phaistos, Crete in Early Minoan IB. It is at this time that new shapes and surface decoration were introduced, leading to the suggestion of abrupt discontinuity in ceramic manufacture, if not in society. Drawn from a broader study of the Neolithic to Early Bronze Age transition, this paper uses an integrated approach exploiting macroscopic, petrographic and microstructural analysis to reconstruct ceramic manufacture at this time. The chaîne opératoire of three different wares, dark-on-light (DOL), dark grey pattern burnished (DGPB) and cooking pot ware (CPW), are discussed. While raw material choice, manipulation and firing conditions are varied between these classes of pottery, many of the techniques are seen to have existed in preceding phases at the site. Furthermore, while the appearance and manufacture of different wares are quite distinct, they are joined together by a rare and characteristic method of forming. The clear distinction, for the first time, of different ware groups across the ceramic repertoire is investigated and suggestions made as to its implications for our understanding of transformations in production and especially in consumption.