Study Of Pottery Research Articles

New data about the stability of skills for creating clay vessel shapes

The article analyzes the relative stability of skills for creating the shapes of clay vessels, both wheel-made and hand-made ones. Sources of the study included a series of “identical” vessels that were made as part of experiments conducted by employees of the Joint Team for Pottery Study in the 1970s and the Samara Expedition for the experimental study of ancient pottery in 2019–2022. Shape parameters have been identified that exhibit the greatest stability, regardless of the method of making the vessel, the type of building elements and the skill level of a craftsman. These parameters are the inclination angles of the lateral line of the shoulder-brachium frame and the body. The results of the study lead to the conclusion that these parameters can be considered as the most reliable for making conclusions based on the pottery shapes about the degree of cultural and ethnocultural homogeneity of the population groups that left archaeological sites.

EXCAVATIONS IN THE ANCIENT THEATRE OF SPARTA, 2008

This article presents the results of the 2008 excavation in the ancient theatre of Sparta conducted by the British School at Athens and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia. Focused on the west side of the cavea, work aimed to locate the southern edge of the Late Antique settlement between the theatre and the sanctuary of Athena Chalkioikos; to establish the northern limits of the Late Antique settlement over the former orchestra; and to establish a more precise ceramic characterisation and chronology for the Early–Middle Byzantine period in Sparta. The area between settlement clusters on the acropolis and over the former orchestra was essentially open, with just a Byzantine terrace wall and path recorded. In the north-west part of the former cavea, a tomb built in the late eighth or early ninth century AD was used at least until the late thirteenth century for the burial of c. 29 individuals. This article presents the first results of a bioarchaeological study of the human remains, and studies of Byzantine pottery from the tomb interior and from the backfill of the pit in which the tomb was built (the latter including a notable quantity of Early Byzantine domestic ware). The 2008 findings are set in the larger context of research on post-antique phases in the theatre (drawing on the British School at Athens Archive) and on the material culture and urban topography of Byzantine Sparta. Almost all excavated contexts contained residual material of all periods. The article concludes with short catalogues of material which pre-dates the construction of the theatre and of inscriptions of all periods.

Novel application of SANS provides quantitative non-destructive identification of forming techniques in late Roman and early medieval pottery from Pannonia

Within archaeological studies of ancient pottery, understanding the techniques used to form vessels from unfired clay provides significant information on the history of technology and economic systems, as well as wider cultural practices and social interactions. We introduce here a new analytical methodology, using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to investigate pottery forming techniques through the preferential orientation of nanoscale objects within pottery fabrics. Significantly, SANS is non-destructive, suitable for both coarse and fine-textured pottery fabrics, provides quantitative data, enables fast-throughput of samples, and is not significantly affected by surface modifications occurring after the primary forming stage. The use of SANS is systematically investigated through over 400 measurements of experimental vessels, and also compared with X-ray microtomography and neutron tomography. The results show that SANS can be used to differentiate wheel-throwing, coil-building, percussion-building, and coil-wheeling techniques. The archaeological application of SANS is demonstrated through a case study of 50 late Roman and early medieval (fourth–sixth century AD) pottery sherds from Hungary, spanning the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and the arrival of Barbarian polities into the region. The findings show a transition in production from predominantly wheel-throwing to coil-wheeling, but also coil-building, percussion-building, percussion-wheeling, and drawing. Such changes appear to reflect the disintegration of large-scale centrally organised Roman economic systems, and the diversification of production, consistent with the more diversified technological and cultural backgrounds of the producers themselves.

Modeling solid-state reaction processes: application for the archaeometric study of potteries from Venus Fisica Temple in Pompeii (Italy)

AbstractThis research employs the voltammetry of immobilized microparticles (VIMP) methodology to analyze a collection of ceramic samples from the temple of Venus Fisica in the archaeological site of Pompeii. The primary objective is to discern their origins and manufacturing processes by the solid-state analysis of the electroactive properties of iron minerals, particularly hematite, extensively investigated for its electrochemical and catalytic characteristics. In our study, we propose a model to elucidate the electrochemical processes involved, building upon prior logistic and nucleation formulations. In this model, we consider the possibility of two superimposed pathways. This approach provides a nuanced understanding of composition changes and mineral crystallinity, factors that can induce significant variations in the voltammetric signal. Consequently, it becomes an effective means to discriminate between different provenances and manufacturing techniques of different potteries. The outcomes of this research contribute valuable insights into the intricate realm of ancient ceramic materials, casting light on their origins and production processes within the historical context of Pompeii.

Black paintings in the late Yocavil ceramics (11th–17th centuries): Applying micro X‐ray diffraction to the study of archaeological potteries in Northwest Argentina

AbstractThe black pigments used in Late Period (11th–17th centuries) painted pottery in the Yocavil Valley were characterized. Changes and continuities in the composition of this material over an extended span were evaluated. A regional sample of 47 potsherds from the Loma Rica, San José, and Santa María styles was collected, and for the first time micro wide‐angle X‐ray scattering was used in these ceramic styles. The results indicate the simultaneous presence of iron oxides (hematite) and solid solutions of manganese and iron oxides (jacobsite–magnetite). Besides, the paints were prepared by mixing the pigments with clay‐based binding materials.

Technological Study of the Neolithic Pottery in Archaeology of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia. Historiographical Essay

Purpose. This article is devoted to the history of the study of the Neolithic pottery in Baikal-Yenisei Siberia from the point of view of the vessel manufacturing technology.Results. At the first stage (1880–1915), researchers proposed hypotheses for the manufacture of vessels based on logical conclusions and ethnographic analogies without analyzing design features. The second stage (1916–1960s) was characterized by serious progress in the diagnosis of various techniques and the creation of hypotheses about Neolithic vessels manufacturing. Separate experiments on vessel modeling were carried out. At the third stage (1970–1990), due to the shift in the focus of research on the typology and chronology of ceramics, technological research was episodic. But after these issues were partially resolved and the achievements of domestic archeology were used in the study of ceramics, at the fourth stage (2000–2020s), the technological direction began to develop most actively. As a result of the technical and technological analysis and experiments, the cultural traditions of pottery were identified and options for reconstructing the manufacturing technology of all groups and types of Neolithic ceramics of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia were proposed.Conclusion. As a result of studies carried out over many years, a lot of data has been obtained on the manufacture of vessels and a number of cultural traditions in the field of pottery have been identified among the Neolithic population of the region. The technological direction remains promising for obtaining further data, which requires the development of existing methods and the introduction of new ones.

Archaeometric study of Maya pottery from Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico

In this paper, structural, morphological, and mineralogical characterizations of Maya archaeological pottery from Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico are presented. The fired clay ceramic samples were taken from Maya settlements, previously classified in traditional way, using the type-variety method from physical and cultural features. It is shown that the ceramics studied have some similarities and differences, indicating that the classification by type-variety must be complemented with physicochemical characterization techniques to issue more compelling proposals about Maya ceramics. Physicochemical analysis revealed that the raw materials used by ceramic groups to manufacture different types of pottery such as vases, cups, incense burners and pots have the same composition and origin than the raw materials located in the surrounded region of the archaeological site. Quite similar mineralogical compositions were found between the various studied ceramic materials which indicate a great knowledge of the manufactured materials type. However, significant differences in fired temperatures and carbon concentration were observed which may be related to type of materials used as fuel (organic materials) and whether such ceramics were fired in open or pit ovens.

An Early Neolithic house in the Foothills: A case study of pottery and lithic artefacts from the Biskupice site 18 (Wieliczka Foothills, southern Poland)

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of pottery and lithic materials found in archaeological features associated with an Early Neolithic house from Biskupice (southern Poland) to shed light on exchange networks of the first farmers in Central Europe. The research began with the discovery of a unique fragment of a face vessel made in the Želiezovce style, a motif primarily found in Moravia and north-eastern Austria. Therefore, specialised analyses were undertaken to determine whether the Biskupice fragment was locally produced or originated from areas south of the Sudetes and Carpathians. The study involved an examination of raw clay material and the technology used to create the anthropomorphic vessel, aiming to establish its provenance (local production versus import). Petrographic methods were employed to analyse a diverse group of vessel types for comparison. Additionally, a selected group of pottery fragments, including the face vessel, underwent lipid residue analysis to determine their potential use. The combination of microscopic examinations and lipid residues analysis was utilised to study the link between the physical properties and function of the vessels. Finally, the archaeological context of other artifacts from the same house, including lithic assemblages, was investigated to determine the presence of both local and imported raw materials in Biskupice. The main conclusion of the study indicates local production of pottery, including the face vessel, and lithic implements. Conversely, a Transcarpathian transfer of some technological and decorative ideas, as well as imports of raw material such as obsidian, were confirmed.

The Use of 3D Scanning and 3D Color Printing Technologies for the Study and Documentation of Late Bronze Age Pottery from East-Central Greece

The Use of 3D Scanning and 3D Color Printing Technologies for the Study and Documentation of Late Bronze Age Pottery from East-Central Greece

Reassembling the pieces, reassessing the picture: an analytical study of medieval pottery (mid. twelfth–sixteenth c.) from Polis Chrysochous, Cyprus

Reassembling the pieces, reassessing the picture: an analytical study of medieval pottery (mid. twelfth–sixteenth c.) from Polis Chrysochous, Cyprus

Revisiting site history and regional interaction at the Dia settlement mound complex, Mali

ABSTRACT Previously unpublished results of test excavations in 1986–1987 at Dia, an extensive occupation mound complex on the western margins of the Inland Niger Delta in Mali, have been augmented by a series of new AMS dates. This article explores how the excavation and radiocarbon data together provide new insights into occupation sequences and site formation processes. It presents details on the depositional contexts, chronology and associated material culture at each of the 1986–1987 excavation units. Using these data, we examine the role of post-depositional disturbance, secondary deposition and re-use of earlier cultural deposits in interpreting site formation processes at the Dia settlement mounds. In addition, we emphasise the important role that studies of well-contextualised pottery from excavation can play in evaluating regional interactions through comparisons with other documented sequences in neighbouring areas, including Jenne-jeno and the Méma. This focus on site formation and regional interaction enables new interpretations that also interrogate and expand the results of the larger-scale excavations at Dia by an international team between 1998 and 2002.

STUDY IN THE FYODOROVKA POTTERY FROM THE MOCHISHCHE SETTLEMENT IN THE SOUTHERN URALS

The settlement of Mochishche contains materials from all the Bronze Age cultures of the Trans-Urals: Petrovka, Alakul, Fyodorovka, Cherkaskul, Mezhovka and Sargary ones. The study of Fyodorovka pottery showed that its forms and ornamentation could not be derived from the Alakul tradition. However, technological research yielded a different result: a significant part of clays and inclusions had parallels in the Alakul pottery of the settlement, but potters also started to use silty clay, which had been probably introduced by the Fyodorovka population of the Lower Tobol region. The number of polished ware decreased sharply, the use of grog increased to some extent, and there is no evidence of ware forming techniques with form-models characteristic of Alakul, but this may be due to the small number of items studied. Nevertheless, their vessels, like the Alakul ones, were formed with the spiral patching method following the bottom and lower part of wall formation on the model. Therefore, the pottery technology of the Fyodorovka population of Mochishche reflects the contacts of potters, bearers of two traditions: the local Alakul and Fyodorovka ones, probably from the Lower Tobol region. However, in the pottery shape and ornamentation, they were guided by Fyodorovka stereotypes, which began to dominate for some social reasons.

Rediscovering Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain): A Multidisciplinary Approach to One of the Key Early Neolithic Sites in the Western Mediterranean

Cova de la Sarsa (València, Spain) is one of the most important Neolithic impressed ware culture archaeological sites in the Western Mediterranean. It has been widely referenced since it was excavated in the 1920s, due partly to the relatively early excavation and publication of the site, and partly to the qualitative and quantitative importance of its archaeological remains. Unfortunately, as it was an older excavation and lacked present-day rigorous methodological approaches, this important site has been somewhat relegated to the background in the reviews about the Neolithic at the end of the 20th century. However, during the last few years, both the site itself and its archaeological remains have been the object of new studies that hopefully will return the site to the forefront of discussions about the Mediterranean Neolithic. We here present the most relevant results of the research carried out by our group (i.e., pottery study, radiocarbon dating, and isotope analysis), and contextualize them within the dense research history of the cave and the studies carried out by other colleagues with the purpose of revisiting its materials and increasing the knowledge available from the site. Radiocarbon dates on human remains show that the cave was used during prehistoric times as a funerary space longer than expected, and also sporadically afterwards. The characterization of the pottery assemblage concludes that most materials belong to the Early Neolithic. Isotopic analysis portrays an overall similar diet based on terrestrial C3 resources throughout prehistoric times, with a possible varied dietary protein input between individuals during the Early Neolithic.

Identifying the original function of vessels deposited in Lusatian Urnfield burials: the case of the Czernikowice cemetery (Poland)

Abstract Usage patterns are one of the leading research issues in archaeological pottery studies. Non-cinerary vessels deposited in burials of the Lusatian Urnfield are particularly intriguing since they did not typically undergo detailed functional analysis. Their function has usually been determined based on the shape and surface treatment. Thus, grave pottery is widely regarded to have been explicitly fashioned for mortuary practices and not used for other purposes. It applies particularly to ceramic items other than containers, such as zoomorphic vessels, figurines, and rattles, which must have played a significant role in funeral ceremonies. The paper presents the outcome of morphological, stylistic and chromatographic analyses of vessels deposited in the Lusatian Urnfield cremation graves found at site 2 in Czernikowice, Legnica district, Poland. The ceramic items come from well-investigated grave contexts dated to Montelius’ periods IV and V. The results indicate that most of the analysed vessels had contact with substances of vegetal and faunal origin.

Study of Pottery Technology in Kura-Araxes Culture of Astanakroud 2 Site of Kojur County Using Petrographic Method

The pottery samples under investigation in this study include the findings of the Astankroud 2 Site in the Kojur region of western Mazandaran Province. The site was uncovered during an archaeological survey of the region in 2010 and has been thus far the easternmost site of Kura-Araxes. Considering the importance of discussions concerning the characteristics of this culture and the reasons for its spread in a vast geographic area extending from the southern coast of the Caspian Sea to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, 15 pottery pieces of Kura-Araxes were subject to petrographic study in order to determine the mineralogy structure of the pottery recovered from Astanakroud Site. The experiments on these pieces were conducted using a polarizing microscope (James Swift) at the Petrographic Laboratory of the Institute for Protection and Restoration of Works affiliated with Cultural Heritage Research. According to the results of experiments, it was revealed that all the pottery had been locally produced. A petrographic study of Astanakroud pottery reveals that the pottery has been produced using soil resulting from erosion of geological structure in the northern part of the Kojur region (with volcanic structure) that has been washed up by natural currents traversing the valleys of Nimvar, Avil, and Kouhpar to the foot of the site.

A Review of Malta’s Pre-Temple Neolithic Pottery Wares

Abstract Sites from the earliest known phases of Maltese prehistory often consist of scatters of sherds for the Għar Dalam and Skorba phases (6000–4800 BCE), and tomb contexts for the Żebbuġ phase (3800–3600 BCE). Neolithic studies are, therefore, heavily reliant on the study of pottery. Although traditional typological and seriation-based analyses of the pottery record have substantially enhanced our knowledge of Early Neolithic Malta, there is a growing appreciation of the need to go beyond these approaches to gain new insights. This study reviews the accessible literature on fabric studies on assemblages found in the Maltese Islands, presenting the state of knowledge for the pottery of the Għar Dalam, Skorba (Early Neolithic), and Żebbuġ (Late Neolithic) phases. Microphotographs of pottery wares were selected from a compilation produced for an ongoing project (the MaltaPot project) to illustrate the descriptions found in the literature. The advances made by archaeologists in studying the Maltese Neolithic pottery are reviewed, and suggestions for building on them are proposed, as archaeometric and petrographic techniques have not been applied systematically to Neolithic pottery from Malta.

Tell el-Amarna, 2022

Fieldwork at Amarna in 2022 included excavation at the Great Aten Temple and the North Desert Cemetery, and the continuation of several post-excavation projects. Those post-excavation projects reported on here are the study of skeletal materials, pottery, plant and organic remains, and inscriptions from the North Desert Cemetery; pottery, plant and other organic remains from the North Cliffs Cemetery; and digital modelling of the North Desert Cemetery. A programme of community outreach in collaboration with the Amarna Visitor Centre also recommenced. [Formula: see text]

A Workflow for Uncertainty Assessment in Elemental Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics: A Case Study of Neolithic Coarse Pottery from Eastern Siberia

In this study, the assessment of uncertainties introduced at different stages of the elemental analysis of archaeological ceramics has been described using the example of the Neolithic pottery sherds from Popovsky Lug (eastern Siberia). To evaluate the uncertainty introduced by sampling due to ceramic heterogeneity, three original sherds were cut into small subsamples. Powdered subsamples (250–350 mg) were analyzed using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry methods, and the variations between analytical results for independent subsamples were compared with the variations introduced during the analytical process (measurement and sample preparation). It was shown that 250–350 mg of ceramic is sufficient to obtain good reproducibility (2–15%) between separate subsamples for most major and trace elements, even for the heterogeneous Neolithic ceramics included in this study. The differing behavior of concentration variations in some elements was explained by measuring the ceramic cross-sections by scanning electron microscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, as well as by the theoretic modeling of the sampling error. The described workflow can be useful in finding uncertainties in elemental analysis results, which may affect the interpretation of bulk chemical composition in ceramic provenance studies.

Petrographic studies of Late Bronze Age pottery from Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus

Petrographic analysis of ceramics allows for the high-resolution distinction between locally-produced ceramics and imports and provides a more comprehensive understanding of ancient production and exchange patterns. This paper analyses Cypriot-produced tablewares of the Late Bronze Age at Hala Sultan Tekke, a major trading hub in the eastern Mediterranean, focusing on the transition from Late Cypriot (LC) IIC to LC IIIA (c. 13th to mid-12th century BCE). In this study, a wide range of tablewares were analysed, with a particular focus on Cypriot-produced plain ware (Plain White Hand- and Wheel-Made; PWHM/PWWM) and painted wheel-made fineware (White Painted Wheel-Made Ware; WPWM), using petrography to determine their mineralogical composition, production technique, and provenance. In addition, reference samples were collected and experimentally fired to identify potential raw materials in the Circum-Troodos Sedimentary Succession region, with additional basaltic soil samples collected from the slopes of the Troodos.The results show that there was a local production at Hala Sultan Tekke of Aegean-type painted and unpainted finewares in LC IIC. The adaptation of Aegean technologies, shapes and decoration patterns, sometimes in combination with traditional Cypriot characteristics, became prevalent in the local production of tableware in LC IIIA until the city was abandoned around the mid-12th century BCE. Evidence for coastal imports, e.g. from the wider Larnaca Bay region, the Famagusta Bay and western Cyprus, particularly painted wheel-made fineware bowls from LC IIIA, reveal new economic patterns and supply chains that emerged after the decline of interregional trade in the eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BCE.

Linking Neolithic lakeshore settlements through raw material of siliceous artefacts

This paper presents the results of the provenience analysis of siliceous artefacts from Neolithic lakeshore settlements studied in the scope of the SNSF-project MET (“Mobilities, entanglements and transformations in Neolithic societies on the Swiss Plateau (3900-3500 BCE) supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Project No 100011 156205). The aim of this paper is to compare the cultural entanglements as defined by the pottery studies with the regions of origins of the knappable siliceous sedimentary rocks (KSSR) raw materials. The analysed siliceous artefacts were found in cultural layers of wetland settlements in the Northern Alpine Foreland, most of which are dated dendrochronologically with extreme precision. The sources of the raw materials were determined by the identification of the sedimentary microfacies of the siliceous artefacts, which allows the accurate location of the exploited outcrops without destroying the artefacts. This enabled detailed insights into complex entanglements, ties and mobility patterns in the raw material procurement between settlement communities on the Swiss Plateau, southern Germany and eastern France. Furthermore, these results were compared visually with stylistic entanglements in the pottery of the 4th millennium BCE. As a first attempt in this direction, this paper shows the potential of studies on mobility patterns when different find categories are studied in combination regarding their raw materials but also their typology.