Ceramic Assemblages Research Articles

Vessel use at the Mycenaean Palace of Ayios Vasileios, Laconia, using Organic Residue Analysis

Abstract In Mycenaean palaces a wide range of consumption activities took place, from the most exclusive to mass-consumption. Here we apply organic residue analysis to a typologically wide ceramic assemblage from the Mycenaean palace of Ayios Vasileios (early fourteenth to mid thirteenth century BC), and the succeeding settlement of the early twelfth century BC, with the aim of investigating the functions of common shapes and to observe patterns of chronological and spatial differentiation related to the palatial and post-palatial phases, the first study of its kind for a Mycenaean palace.

One city to rule them all? The production of copper in Enkomi, Cyprus: the evidence from the metallurgical ceramic assemblage

The sociopolitical organisation of Cyprus during the Late Bronze Age (LBA) is still an active field of scholarly debate. In the second half of the 2nd mil. BCE, the prevailing interpretations favour either a unified or a decentralised administration model on the island. Enkomi is listed as one of the most important Late Cypriot (LC) sites in both models. The rise of this urban centre can be largely attributed to the control of copper production during the LC period. The results of the chemical and microstructural analysis of the archaeometallurgical ceramic assemblage from the copper workshops in Area III at Enkomi are presented here. Our research revealed that the ceramics were exclusively used for copper-based secondary metallurgical activities. This project, the first in Cypriot archaeometallurgy to focus solely on technical ceramics, adds significant new knowledge to the reconstruction of the copper production organisation and Enkomi’s standing among the LC polities. Furthermore, these new findings pave the way for the development of a comparative analysis of the various stages of the copper production sequence in Cyprus, as reflected in metallurgical ceramic assemblages.

The Social Implication of a “mixed” Ceramic Assemblage: Understanding the Predynastic Community of Nag el-Qarmila (First Nile Cataract, Egypt) Through Pottery Technology

This article investigates the social landscape of the First Nile Cataract region in the 4th mill. BCE through the application of petrographic and technological approaches to pottery analysis. The study focuses on the ceramic assemblages from the settlement WK15 and the necropolis WK14 at Nag el-Qarmila and identifies for the first time three technical traditions along with their synchronic and diachronic interaction. It provides new data on the more ancient phases of the so-called Naqadan productions and their relationship with the Shale Ware and the Nubian Black-Mouthed Ware. The results allow us to better frame the mixed assemblage that characterizes a site far from the elite centers and where relations between mobile and sedentary groups were, therefore, more fluid. The data obtained also constitute a comparative nucleus for the growth of technological and petrographic studies at other sites and periods, and the numerous insights that emerged will be useful for directing future research.

Comparison of Quantitative and Qualitative EDXRF Analysis for Provenance Study of Archaeological Ceramics.

The most common scientific analysis of archaeological ceramics aims to determine the raw material source and/or production technology. Scientists and archaeologists widely use XRF-based techniques as a tool in a provenance study. After conducting XRF analysis, the results are often analyzed using multivariate analysis in addition to interpretation and conclusions. Various multivariate techniques have already been applied in archaeological ceramics provenance studies to reveal different raw material sources, identify imported pieces, or determine different production recipes. This study aims to evaluate the results of multivariate analysis in the provenance study of ceramics that belong to three cultures that settled in the same area during various prehistoric periods. Portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pEDXRF) was used to determine the elemental composition of the ceramic material. The ceramic material was prepared in two different ways. The ceramic body material was ground into powder, homogenized, and then pressed into tablets. After that, the same fragments are polished in suitable places. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the tablets and polished pieces. The results were subjected to both unsupervised and supervised multivariate analysis. Based on the results, it was concluded that qualitative analysis of the well-prepared shards' surface using EDXRF spectrometry could be utilized in provenance studies, even when the ceramic assemblages were made of similar raw materials.

Archaeometric Study of Iron Age Pottery Production in Central Sicily: A Case of Technological Conservatism

Abstract This study presents an in-depth archaeometric investigation of Iron Age ceramic assemblage dating from 950 to 750 BCE from the sanctuary at Polizzello Mountain, Sicily. The site, a key sanctuary utilized by indigenous communities for ritual activities, is examined for its strategic location, structural developments, pottery assemblages, and evidence of communal activities. The study employs petrographic analysis on thin sections, integrated with other analytical methods, to explore the technology behind pottery production. It investigates whether such production reflects a common technological knowledge shared by a broader community or if they represent a blend of different manufacturing traditions. The findings highlight that the pottery from Polizzello Mountain aligns with the well-established Sicilian tradition of combining calcareous components and grog, indicating a local tradition of pottery production with no significant compositional differences suggesting specialized production at the workshop level.

Down the drain: reconstructing social practice from the content of two sewers in a Late Antique bathhouse in Jerash, Jordan

AbstractThis contribution examines social practices in the Central Bathhouse in Jerash in Late Antiquity based on the ceramic assemblage, vessel glass, faunal remains, and small finds retrieved from two sections of the bathhouse's sewer. We argue that although the bathhouse underwent significant architectural alterations from its construction in the 4th c. CE to its abandonment in the late 7th, the activities taking place inside the building remained largely the same. Our study shows that even towards the end of the bathhouse's lifespan, bodily grooming remained integral to the bathing experience, while food and drink were consumed on the premises even though the bathing facilities had been reduced to a bare minimum. The faunal remains indicate the type of food consumed, while the small finds illustrate a lively environment where gaming and gambling took place in a social space frequented by men, women, and children.

PREHISTORIC KASHMIR: UNRAVELING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF NEOLITHIC ARTIFACTS

In the present paper, we have carried out a systematic study of the important archaeological remains recovered from the Neolithic sites in the Kashmir valley that were excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India. It is also evident from the earlier studies carried out by various Scholars that more than fifty-five Neolithic sites were discovered in the Jammu and Kashmir region, and two in the Ladakh region. The Neolithic remains were found at nine sites during the field work but among these only four Neolithic sites were systematically excavated extensively. These are Burzahom, Gufkral, Simthan and Kanispur. The archaeological artifacts reported from these Neolithic sites in the Kashmir valley were mainly pottery, terracotta objects, metal objects, stone objects, paste Objects and semi-precious stones. In the present paper, an analytical estimation of Neolithic culture such as the structural remains, ceramic assemblages, metal objects, terracotta objects, shell objects, bone objects, and stone objects are studied. The information provided in the present paper about the Neolithic culture in Kashmir is based on the excavations of these four Neolithic archaeological sites in Kashmir Valley such as Burzahom, Gufkral, Simthan and Kanispur. Many other Neolithic settlements are reported in the Kashmir valley which are still waiting for the excavation.

Раннобронзова керамична паница от колекцията на музея при Археологическия резерват „Тракийски и античен град Кабиле“

This publication is focused on the study of a single, but very interesting object – a ceramic bowl unearthed during the excavations at the “Thracian and Ancient City of Kabile” Archaeological Reserve. The characteristics of the vessel clearly distinguish it from the ceramic assemblage made by hand, and refer it to the time of the Hellenistic era of the 4th–3rdcenturies BC. The aim of the study is to clarify the chronology of the vessel, as well as to point out its parallels. The vessel presented in the study illustrates a detail of the interregional contacts between the Upper Thracе and Anatolia during the Early Bronze Age. In the last two decades, this tendency has been substantiated empirically through the recognition and inclusion in scientific circulation of imported objects or those that represent local imitations of objects of Anatolian and/or Aegean origin. Specifically for the Yambol/Kabile area, this is one of the few – and still isolated – artefacts with a marked Anatolian origin. It may fit in with observations of a two-way corridor transfer of objects, goods and populations (?) through some of the modern Aytos and Karnobat passes across the eastern divisions of the Balkan Mountains. Examples of this comprise both individual objects, and also burial structures situated along the presumed route connecting the territories located on both sides of the Balkan Mountains.

Fabrication of Si3N4 ceramics with adjustable microstructure and mechanical properties via Y2O3 contents in ZrN–AlN–Y2O3 ternary sintering additives

To adapt to the different application environments, Si3N4 ceramics are required to have different mechanical properties. Therefore, in this study, Si3N4 ceramics with adjustable mechanical properties were fabricated via using ZrN–AlN–Y2O3 ternary sintering additives and hot-pressing at 1650 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, the effect of the Y2O3 concentration on the phase assemblage, microstructure, mechanical properties, and crack propagation of Si3N4 ceramics was systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that Si3N4 ceramics presented adjustable microstructure and mechanical properties with the Y2O3 contents added in the range of 0∼8 wt%. With the increase of Y2O3 contents, the average aspect ratio of Si3N4 grains had an increase of 61.77%, increasing from 3.95 to 6.39. Besides, the Si3N4 grains and the formed YAG intergranular phase exhibited a fairly good combination at the nano-scale. Si3N4 grains and intergranular phase were the main influence factors on the mechanical properties of Si3N4 ceramics. As a result, the bending strength was from 700.99 ± 38.72 to 961.13 ± 36.84 MPa. The fracture toughness exhibited a range of 4.87 ± 0.11 to 6.10 ± 0.23 MPa⋅m1/2, while Vickers hardness achieved a high level of 16.09 ± 0.16 to 19.98 ± 0.39 GPa.

Searching for the potters behind the pots: re-examining the Tell Ahmar Neo-Assyrian ceramic assemblage

Searching for the potters behind the pots: re-examining the Tell Ahmar Neo-Assyrian ceramic assemblage

A compositional and technological reassessment of the function of potters’ marks on Early Bronze Age sherds from Tell el-‘Abd, Syria

A highly distinctive feature of the Early Bronze Age ceramic assemblage of the site of Tell el-‘Abd in northern Syria is the presence of large numbers of pots that were incised with a diverse range of symbols prior to firing. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the function of such ceramic “potters’ marks”. One is that they functioned as a signature or trademark used by potters or workshops to identify their work. Another possibility is that they were used for quality control or accounting purposes during manufacture. Alternatively, they may have signified vessels intended for specific customers, or the size or contents of the vessels. In the case of the Tell el-‘Abd potters’ marks, distinguishing between these possibilities has proven difficult based upon their macroscopic examination and archaeological context alone. The present research, therefore, attempts to shed further light on the function of the potters’ marks by studying the clay paste recipes of 33 ceramic samples using scientific methods. Thin section petrography, instrumental geochemistry and scanning electron microscopy have been used to characterise and classify sherds according to their raw materials and manufacturing technology. This has been compared to the type of potters’ mark and other archaeological information in order to test the hypotheses that the distinctive ceramic markings signified ceramics made at different production centres or distinguished between different artisans operating at the same workshop.

Report on new tree-ring-radiocarbon dates from Snaketown, Gila River Indian Community

Ceramic chronologies are crucial for archaeological dating, but in many areas very few tree-ring dates are available for the high-precision refinement of ceramic phases. This paper takes a step toward the objective evaluation of Hohokam ceramic chronologies with high-precision tree-ring-radiocarbon dates. Tree-ring sequences from pit structures spanning ca. 500 years at the site of Snaketown (Hohokam Pima National Monument), an important ball-court center in the Pre-Classic Hohokam interaction sphere, were dated with wiggle-match calibration. We compare the new absolute dates to probability distributions generated from ceramic assemblages and other information. The results indicate that Middle Gila phase designations based on pottery wares and house types overlap with the wiggle-matched dates, with good agreement observed in earlier phases. However, the highest density 50-year intervals of ceramic dates generated from floor assemblages thought to date to Middle Sacaton phases do not agree with the new independent dates. Our discussion explores explanations for instances of low agreement and points out the potential contributions of scaled-up wiggle-matching studies in the Hohokam region.

Domestic Waste as a Window into Crusader-Period Le Lyon (Kibbutz Megiddo/Lajjun, Israel): Insights from a Household Midden and Its Ceramic Assemblage

Domestic Waste as a Window into Crusader-Period Le Lyon (Kibbutz Megiddo/Lajjun, Israel): Insights from a Household Midden and Its Ceramic Assemblage

Revising the Chronology and Typology of Gaza Ware, a Hallmark of Late Islamic Palestinian Pottery

Gaza Ware, one of the hallmarks of Palestinian pottery in Late Islamic/Ottoman times, was produced in the southern Coastal Plain and is characterised by dark-coloured fabric and a large variety of vessel forms. Although most scholars agree that Gaza Ware was already in use in the 18th century and continued into the 20th century, the earliest appearance of this pottery is still under debate. This article offers new insights into Gaza Ware typology and chronology, based on published and unpublished ceramic assemblages from excavated contexts in southern and central Palestine. More specifically, it is suggested here that the advent of Gaza Ware can be traced back to the 17th, if not the 16th, century, and morphological and fabric criteria to discern between ‘early’ and ‘late’ variants of certain vessel types are presented. This fresh look at Gaza Ware will hopefully assist archaeologists and ceramic specialists dealing with Late Islamic Southern Levantine contexts to fine-tune the chronology of contemporaneous ceramics and excavated remains.

Szolnok – Milléri-holtág part I-II. több korszakú lelőhely őrlőkő leletei archeometriai vizsgálatának előzetes eredményei : Új adatok a domoszlói piroxénandezit nyersanyag régészeti elterjedéséhez

The multi-period archaeological site Szolnok – Milléri-holtág part I-II is located in the north-eastern vicinity of Szolnok, approximately 5 km from the town, on the high bank of the Milléri-holtág. The total excavated area is almost 27 000 m2 . The preventive excavation was performed by the staff of the Hungarian National Museum in two campaigns (in 2014 and 2015) connected with the M4 motorway constructions. Most excavated settlement features belonged to a Middle Iron Age (Scythian Period) and a Late Iron Age (Celtic Period) rural settlement with scattered structures. Besides these, other settlement features were found from the Neolithic, Late Bronze Age and Medieval Period (Árpád Period). It has to be mentioned that in the excavated part of the Scythian Period settlement, only circular and oval structures were found. The rectangular features – typical for other settlements of the period – were absent in Milléri-Holtág part I-II. However, the archaeological finds were typical: ceramic assemblages were characterised by long-lasting forms (pots, bowls) of the Iron Age household ceramics. The assemblages of the Late Iron Age features were very similar to the vessel types of the earlier period. The partition of the artefacts can only be made with the help of some characteristic forms and ornamentations that appeared in a close unit. The ground stone assemblage of the site (primarily fragments of grinding stones) was analysed with petrographic and geochemical methods. Based on these investigations, the finds' most frequent raw material type could be identified with the Domoszló-type pyroxene andesite from the Mátra Mountains, studied intensively in the past few years. Other types of andesite were present in the ground stone assemblage in smaller amounts. The identification of the source areas of these different andesite raw material types needs more exploration, not just in the territory of Hungary, but also in some areas beyond the borders, e.g. Subcarpathia (Zakarpatska Oblast, Ukraine), Eastern-Slovakia, Transylvania (Romania).

Ritual use, consumption, and depositional practices at Agriomernos Cave, Northwestern Samos (Greece): A ceramic analytical approach

This study utilises pottery as a proxy to identify patterns of use and consumption, as well as depositional strategies at Agriomernos, a recently discovered cave site on Samos Island (Greece). This discovery challenges our understanding of human–landscape interaction within a marginal region across two distinct prehistoric chronological episodes. As part of a broader research project, this paper presents the results from an integrated, multiscale analysis of pottery through morpho-stylistic and macroscopic examination, thin section petrography, and wavelength dispersive X–ray fluorescence spectroscopy (WD-XRF). The analysis has revealed a compositionally diverse ceramic assemblage that represents a range of different raw material sources on the island and, by extension, different groups of people. The identification of off-island imports adds new evidence to the reconstruction of Aegean connectivity patterns. Agriomernos Cave constitutes a key archaeological site within an area previously unexplored, offering a unique opportunity to investigate ancient mobility, landscape sacrality, and ritual performances manifested through periodical and repeated acts of deposition.

Better late (Roman) than never! A possible amphora fragment from 6th century Balatonlelle, Western Hungary

This study reports on a unique finding connected to the re-examination of the ceramic assemblage recovered from the Langobard age (6th century AD) settlement of Balatonlelle, situated in the territory of the former Roman province of Pannonia (now in western Hungary). An undecorated body sherd, not picked up by either the initial typological evaluation of the ceramics or by the preliminary petrographic analysis, was now reassessed by thin section ceramic petrography and scanning electron microscopy. The new analyses revealed that this sherd contains rock and mineral inclusions originated from ophiolites, including slightly serpentinised peridotite fragments. Such rocks do not occur on the surface in Hungary, whereas they are commonly found in the Eastern Mediterranean. The presence of ophiolites in the potsherd indicates that this vessel was produced in a distant territory. The macroscopic characteristics of the sherd combined with its petrographic fingerprint suggest that this pot might have been a transport amphora produced in the Eastern Mediterranean. Although rarely found in Pannonia in the Migration Period, several amphora types, including the most frequently found LRA 1 type, were produced in numerous production centres in the Eastern Mediterranean, in territories geologically congruous with the aplastic inclusions found in the fabric of the Balatonlelle sherd. The significance of this finding is that from Langobard age Pannonia, amphorae occur only sporadically, connected mainly to former Roman settlements. While any conclusions drawn from a single sherd must necessarily remain tentative, this sherd nonetheless provides some material evidence for the existence of some sort of contact between Balatonlelle and the Eastern Mediterranean during the 6th century, be it economic, political or cultural. This study also aims to celebrate the career of György Szakmány, who was one of the key figures to establish ceramic petrographic research and education in Hungary, and trained many generations of petrographers – including the present authors. As such, it also serves as an example how ceramic petrography can bring a new dimension of information to archaeological research.

THE AMRI CHALCOLITHIC PHASE IN SINDH (PAKISTAN): WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW

The problem of the origin of the Indus Civilisation has attracted attention of many colleagues working on the archaeology of the Indian Subcontinent and the Indus Valley in particular. What is the role played by the cultural processes preceding the origin and spread of one of the most important Bronze Age civilisations of the ancient world? This paper examines some aspects of the Amri Phase, which flourished in Sindh during the 4th millennium BC. Our knowledge in this area is very poor. It relies almost exclusively on the ceramic assemblages retrieved during excavations carried out in the type site in the 1960s. Research currently underway in Lower Sindh has led to the discovery of more sites relevant for this problem. Many of them are located close to the ancient Arabian Sea coastline or on limestone terraces which used to be islands in the Chalcolithic times. They consist of shell middens, whose surface has yielded characteristic Amri Culture knapped stone assemblages. PEŁNA TREŚĆ ARTYKUŁU C

Bluff Field (9CH160) ceramics and radiocarbon dating and their implications for chronology building on Ossabaw Island and the Georgia coast

ABSTRACT We present the results of the 2022 excavations at the Bluff Field site (9CH160), wherein we consider the juxtaposition of Bayesian radiocarbon modeling against the current ceramic chronologies derived for the Georgia coast. New evidence from AMS radiocarbon dating and statistical modeling pushes both the timing and span of Wilmington series ceramics beyond the ranges afforded by current models. Short-lived carbonized hickory nuts from within excavation units and shovel tests returned dates that are hundreds of years later in time than the currently accepted timing for Wilmington ceramics. These ceramics contribute the largest proportion of the ceramic assemblage recovered from the site and within the levels from which we dated for chronological modeling. Our modeling of these dates that are in stratigraphic sequence calls into question not only the use history of the Wilmington ceramic series, but also the demographic history of the island that is currently predicated upon the timing of this and other ceramic styles. We recommend reinterrogating existing chronologies in order to bring the settlement chronologies for the Georgia coastal region up to present-day methodological and statistical standards.

Technologies and standards in ceramic production of middle–late Trypillya culture

Abstract In recent decades, many studies have been carried out on the technology of ceramics of the Trypillya-Cucuteni culture. The presented article gives a summary of much of the information amassed. All stages of the Trypillya ceramic production have been considered: the preparation of the clay mass, the methods of modelling, the connection of structural parts, and decoration. Manufacturing standards for vessels that formed ceramic assemblages of different chronological stages of Trypillya culture are identified. Particular attention is paid to the study of engobe and the composition of pigments in the paint layer.