Abundant Pottery Research Articles

Doubting radiocarbon dating from in-slag charcoal

A Roman-Period bloomery smelting site had been excavated in the Lahn valley at Wetzlar-Dalheim in central Germany during 2006–2012. The production unit consisted of a big rectangular workshop pit with 13 slag pit-furnaces, two waste dumps and a small sunken hut. The stratigraphical sequence, along with abundant pottery and small finds, allows the dating of short-lived smelting activity to a time slot around the third quarter of the first century AD. As a first series of radiocarbon measurements from in-slag charcoal samples resulted in a bewildering date range from the Iron Age right back into the Neolithic, a second dating series has been undertaken. This time exclusively charcoal samples taken from the bottom of the furnace pits have been analysed. The resulting dates fit to the archaeologically derived dating. It is clear that the 14C content of the in-slag charcoal samples must have been altered already during the process in antiquity. With none of the analysed dates younger than the archaeologically fixed date of the bloomery production unit, it is obvious that a contamination with fossil carbon must have taken place. The wide and inconsistent date range suggests that fossil carbon has entered the metallurgical system within the furnace in an uncontrollable manner. The observed phenomenon has wide implications for other metallurgical sites with high temperature processes under strongly reducing conditions. Charcoal samples from such sites, especially from inside slags, might be contaminated to an unpredictable degree and produce seemingly older dates. A first review of previously published data series calls for a reconsideration of the reliability of radiocarbon dates from metallurgical slags.

Erste Ergebnisse der archäologischen Untersuchungen des byzantinischen Aigai (Aiolis)

Abstract In this paper, a pre-assessment of the Byzantine era of Aigai will be presented. Besides the western Anatolian cities of Pergamum, Ephesus and Smyrna, Aigai is the only city which achieved to cope with the rough terrain among the Aspordenon Mountains north of Smyrna. This city located 17 km east of the Yeni Şakran town in the province Izmir, also known as Köseler castle due to its location on Mount Gün near the Köseler village in the province of Manisa, and is one of the twelve cities within the Aeolian region mentioned by Herodotus. Thanks to the detailed studies by R. Bohn and C. Schuchhardt on inscriptions from Aigai, the city was first introduced to the academical world in 1889. Archaeological studies started in 2004 and were conducted by Prof. Dr. Ersin Doğer. While the archaeological and written sources about the history and civilization of pre-Byzantine Aigai are rather well-known, in this paper it will be attempted to give an overview of the scarce written sources about the Byzantine era and to evaluate them in the light of so-far unpublished architecture and small finds. Since 2004, area based excavations have been carried out in the necropolis of the city, at Demirkapı and the insula situated east of the Tiberius gate which are the entrance points of the city, in the Bouleuterion, Agora and Macellum to its east, in the cisterns nos. I and II and in the easternmost part of the acropolis. The residential areas, built by the last inhabitants of the region, the Byzantines, by using spolia of older buildings, are badly preserved. The architecture, which, due to its location on a hillside, has been harmed by landslides and torrents, but also by human destruction such as treasure hunts and stone borrowing, is very fragile. The only preserved architecture so far is a sacral building dated to the 12th or 13th century. Abundant pottery and glass small finds, together with some metal objects and coins, enable us to get an idea of the Byzantine era in Aigai and provide a foresight to further studies.

Anthropogenic Soils and Tree Distributions in a Lowland Forest in Bolivia

ABSTRACTThe distributions of 17 tree species with seeds or fruits that are commonly eaten or otherwise used by humans were studied in reference to anthropogenic soils in a seasonally dry lowland tropical forest in Bolivia. Two types of anthropogenic dark earths (ADEs) were identified: terra preta (TP: darkened with charcoal fragments and with abundant pottery shards) and terra mulata (TM: somewhat darkened but with little or no pottery). In 216 ha, we compared the densities of trees >10 cm dbh of useful species in nine TP patches, three TM patches, and six areas with nonanthropogenic soils (N‐ADE). The TP, which covers approximately 20 percent of the sample area, has higher contents of organic matter, extractable P, and extractable Ca than N‐ADE soils, as well as higher pH and extractable P than TM. TM has organic matter and Ca contents similar to N‐ADE soils but significantly less extractable K. In general, TP has higher nutrient content than surrounding soils, both at the surface (0–10 cm) and deeper in the profile (40–50 cm). Despite these differences in soil fertility and contrary to our expectations, none of the 17 tree species were concentrated on TP perhaps because interactions between local dispersal agents and natural disturbances have masked historical patterns. Alternatively, past inhabitants of the study area may have enriched forests with useful tree species in areas where they were not practicing the intensive soil husbandry that results in ADEs.

Preliminary results of detailed geochemical study of mercury at the ancient ore roasting site P{enk (Idrija area, Slovenia)

Pšenk is one out of 21 localities of ancient roasting sites in the woods surrounding Idrija and one of the largest localities of roasting vessels fragments. The most abundant pottery remains are found in the central western part of the area, which is about 60 m long and up to 50 m wide and is supposed to be the location of the roasting process itself. Detailed soil sampling was performed on 210 x 180 m big area. 156 soil (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) and humus samples were collected from 73 sampling points. 3 soil profiles were sampled to determine vertical distribution of Hg in soil. The prevailing soil types are Cambisols with the typical A-B-C layers sequence. In general soils are rich in organic matter to the depth of 30-40 cm; deeper the clayey loam prevails. The determined Hg contents in soil and humus samples of the investigated area are in the range 1.6-8,600 mg/kg with the median of 62.5 mg/kg. At the area of supposed roasting site the Hg contents range between 20 and 8,600 mg/kg with the median of 580 mg/kg. Spatial distribution of mercury in humus and soils of the investigated area show the highest Hg concentrations at the supposed roasting site area where the largest quantity of pottery fragments were found and to the east of this area, at the narrow tract between the footpath on the north and the bed of Lačna voda brook on the south. Extremely high Hg contents were found in profile P4 where it riches 37,020 mg/kg at the depth of 20-30 cm; in general Hg concentrations in all three studied profiles show a gradual decrease with depth. The soils of the investigated area are enriched with mercury to a high degree. Further investigations on Hg speciation are needed to determine the mobility and bioavailability of Hg in soil.

Excavations in Midea 2006

Excavations in Midea continued in 2006 as a Greek-Swedish programme under the direction of Dr. Katie Demakopoulou in collaboration with Dr. Ann-Louise Schallin. In the Upper Acropolis remains of an Early Helladic II defensive system were uncovered. East of this and at a lower level, a floor deposit was excavated with abundant pottery of Early Helladic I date including typical examples of the Talioti Ware. In the West Gate area excavation continued in the west part of the building complex adjacent to the fortification wall. Abundant Late helladic IIIB2 pottery was recovered from the exploration of two more rooms of the complex. A new trench was opened on the lower west terrace of the Acropolis in order to expose the line and the entire width of the fortification wall, which is almost completely covered by accumulated deposits in this area. Excavation was resumed in the East Gate area with the removal of a wide baulk and the investigation of the space associated with the series of rooms abutting the northeast section of the fortification wall. From the Mycenaean deposits removed, pottery including some pictorial sherds was recovered, as well as two human figurines.

Archaeological Investigations on the Small Islands of Aiwa Levu and Aiwa Lailai, Lau Group, Fiji

ABSTRACT We present archaeological data from the small limestone islands of Aiwa Levu (1.21 km2) and Aiwa Lailai (1.0 km2), Lau Group, Fiji. Surveys revealed prehistoric occupations of a sinkhole cave, rockshelters, and a fortified site. We excavated six sites, all with abundant pottery and faunal materials. Eleven radiocarbon dates from four sites span nearly the entire period of Fijian prehistory, from 2710–2330 cal BP to 430–10 cal BP. From inland sites on Aiwa Levu, the stratification, long chronology, and abundance of midden, and other artifacts argue for more permanent prehistoric occupation than the island's current use as a temporary fishing camp for people from nearby Lakeba (55.84 km2). Our archaeological data reinforce the notion that small islands were important in the prehistoric settlement and long-term occupation of Oceania, even in archipelagos where much larger islands exist nearby. In spite of their typically limited agricultural potential, small islands may be easy to defend and may offer better access to certain terrestrial and marine resources than large neighboring islands. Prehistoric sites on some small islands also may be less disturbed by modern activities than most larger islands, and therefore have enhanced potential to yield rich archaeological records.

Influence of mercury ore roasting sites from 16th and 17th century on the mercury dispersion in surroundings of Idrija

In the first decade of mercury mining in Idrija the ore was roasted in piles. After that the ore was roasted for 150 years, until 1652, in earthen vessels at various sites in the woods around Idrija. Up to present 21 localities of ancient roasting sites were established. From the roasting areas Frbejžene trate, lying on a wide dolomitic terrace on the left side of the road from Idrija to Čekovnik, 3 soil profiles are discussed. In all three profiles in the upper, organic matter rich soil horizon very high mercury contents (from 3 to 4,000 mg/kg) were found. In two profiles the contents rapidly decrease with depth, to about 10- times lower values already at 0.5 m. Below that, the mercury contents decrease slowly, to reach at the 1.3 m depth a few mg/kg metal. In the third profile the upper humic layer is followed downward by an additional humic layer containing very abundant pottery fragments. In this layer the maximum mercury contents were determined, 7.474 mg/kg Hg. The underlying loamy soil contains between 1000 and 2000 mg/kg mercury. Pšenk is one of the larger localities of roasting vessels fragments. It is located at Lačna voda brook below Hlevše, above its confluence with the Padar ravine. The most abundant pottery remains are found in the upper western margin of the area, just below the way to Hleviše. The considered geochemical profile Pšenk contains at the top a 45 cm thick humic layer with 4,000 to 5,000 mg/kg mercury. Deeper the contents fall to around 100 mg/kg mercury. The calculations result in an estimated amount of 1.4 t mercury still present at the Pšenk locality, and in about 40 t of mercury on ali roasting sites described up to present. The determined mercury contents in soils at old roasting sites are very high, and they surpass all hitherto described localities at Idrija and in the surroundings.

Gabbroic clay sources in Cornwall: a petrographic study of prehistoric pottery and clay samples

Summary. This analysis of prehistoric pottery and clay samples from Cornwall demonstrates that the clay used to make Cornish gabbroic pottery in prehistory originated around the gabbro rock outcrop in a small area of the Lizard peninsula. The research uses petrographic and chemical analysis to subdivide the prehistoric pottery into six groups. Owing to the unusual geology of the Lizard these groups can be attributed to specific locations. The most abundant pottery fabric, Typical Gabbroic, was made using coarse clay which is mainly found in a 1 km2 area near Zoar. A finer version of this clay, found higher in the soil profile or slightly transported and redeposited, was used to make Fine Gabbroic pottery and an even finer variant called FNS (Fine Non‐Sandy) Gabbroic. We identify for the first time here a Loessic/Gabbroic pottery fabric which can be matched exactly to clay found at Lowland Point. Serpentinitic/Gabbroic pottery was made using clay from the gabbro/serpentinite border zone. Pottery made from the Granitic/Gabbroic fabric did not match any clay from the Lizard, showing that gabbroic clay was sometimes removed and made into pottery elsewhere in Cornwall. The main clay source near Zoar was used for clay extraction throughout the Bronze Age and Iron Age for pottery which was traded all over Cornwall. Other gabbroic clay sources produced pottery only during certain periods and exclusively supplied particular settlements, such as the Loessic/Gabbroic fabric which was found only at Gear and Caer Vallack. The results suggest that pottery was produced by several small‐scale cottage industries, which may have operated on a seasonal, part‐time basis and probably formed only part of a wide range of activities located around the Lizard area.

Three Neopalatial deposits from Palaikastro, East Crete

Although the MM III B and LM I A ceramic phases of the Neopalatial period have in central Crete recently been subjected to refinement and revision, some of it controversial, in the east of the island they are still not very clearly defined. It is often argued that these phases see important changes in Minoan political geography, with Knossos seemingly extending its influence farther afield than ever before. Thus closer definition of these phases in east Crete in relation to the centre of the island represents an important step. It is in this light that three deposits from Palaikastro are here fully presented and discussed, with a view to clarifying the nature of the MM III B and LM I A phases in east Crete. The deposits in question were excavated during the recent programme of British School excavations conducted between 1986 and 1996. They are from three different contexts, in Building 6, Area 6 and Building 2 respectively, and contain abundant pottery (447 catalogued pots in total). The pottery from these deposits consists largely of cups, stored in some quantity in what seem to be small storerooms or ‘pantries’. Although east Cretan Neopalatial pottery does exhibit its own stylistic and typological traits, there are sufficient comparisons with material in central Crete to assign the deposits from Building 6 and Area 6 to MM III B, and the one from Building 2 to LM I A. It is hoped that the publication of this material will serve as a clear basis for future discussions of these significant phases in east Crete.

Buccino: The Early Bronze Age Village of Tufariello

AbstractThe excavation of the Early Bronze Age village at Tufariello (Buccinno) in southern Italy represents a major archaeological advance in a little-known period of Italian prehistory in this region. The emphasis of the following report is in the integration of archaeological material, especially the statistical study of abundant pottery material from three distinct stratigraphic phases of the site, and the discussion of the unexpected rectangularly planned buildings of the site, with reports on evidence of flora and fauna. The result is the first synthetic view of the life of a southern Italian community of the end of the third millennium B.C.The excavation has been the most recent phase of the exploration of this area undertaken since 1968 by Brown University in collaboration with the Superintendency of Antiquities of Salerno. This report is made up of the following sections. Introduction and Stratigraphy by R. Ross Holloway Architecture by Ned ...