Prehistoric pottery is the most abundant material discovered in archaeological sites and represents the main element of knowledge about human communities from the past. This study presents a model of interdisciplinary investigation of pottery through several types of analyses, enabling the scientific study of this category of artifacts. The analyses were performed on 11 ceramic fragments from the Middle Bronze Age settlement of Piatra Neamț–Lutărie, Eastern Romania, considering information about the color, production technique, type, size, functionality and category of the vessel, but also data related to ceramic paste inclusions. The samples were studied by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (µFTIR). The results obtained provide important information regarding pottery manufacturing technologies, such as sources of the raw materials and firing temperatures, and revealed the functionality of various vessel categories within a prehistoric settlement.
Field survey activities in the Verdele brook basin, South of Hoisești village, Neamț County, have led to the identification and integration of new sites in the national archaeological database. At first, we made a visual analysis of the Verdele brook basin (left tributary of the Bistrița River), a stage followed by the identification of the places that presented specific parameters of areas with archaeological traces. In this context, South of the Hoisești village, on the left high terrace of the Verdele brook, on a flattened hillock delimited by two fossil riverbeds, we identified many archaeological traces. The fieldwalking activity continued during four agricultural seasons in which we took in consideration the distribution of the artefacts, the degree of damage inflicted to the area and the way the use of agricultural machinery was affecting an archaeological site. In order to confirm the presence of the archaeological content, the artefact distribution and the need to recover and protect the heritage, non-invasive investigations were performed, which proved the existence of a Eneolithic stronghold with three linear arranged 19 housing structures. As a result of this evaluation, it was proposed to carry out an archaeological survey in which the main objective was the research of a rectangular house. After removing the topsoil containing archaeological remains, was reached the archaeological level represented by the remnants of a burnt housing structure. The archaeological investigation started at the Hoisești-La Curmătura 1 led to the identification of some specific characteristics of the Eneolithic settlements with an area of less than one hectare located on minor watercourses and in the vicinity of some sources of liquid salt. In the same context, by recovering a batch of pottery fragments from the Middle Bronze Age, additions will be made regarding the occupation space and the connectivity in the central area of the Cracău-Bistrita Depression.
Vessels with a special shape have always been a point of interest for pottery studies, especially from the perspective of the distinct functionality that these pots would have had. The ceramic typologies made for the miniature finds specific to the Middle Bronze Age in the Eastern Carpathian area include a series of such vessels attributed to the Costișa communities. Currently, the role of these pots is still under debate, being classified as ritual or special, which led to two case studies focused on investigating these miniatures. The analyzed vessels come from the Piatra Neamț—Bâtca Doamnei and Siliștea—Pe Cetățuie settlements (Neamț County), where these containers were discovered with traces of pigment or in association with colored minerals. These findings led to a series of questions related to their use, as it is known that in the Middle Bronze Age there are not many archaeological discoveries that explain the presence of pigments in the studied area. In this sense, multiplication of information was achieved by performing detailed analyses, such as optical microscopy (texture and surface details), colorimetry CIE L*a*b* (color investigation), SEM-EDX (elemental composition) and µ-FTIR (chemical compounds). The results of the interdisciplinary study led to new data on the nature of the pigment and the method of preparation, and also clues on the source of the raw material. Thus, these items illustrate the special use of miniature vessels and their probable functions.
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