Reconstructing change in firing technology during the Final Neolithic–Early Bronze Age transition in Phaistos, Crete. Just the tip of the iceberg?

Abstract

Changes in firing practice have been suggested as representing a revolution in ceramic technology at the beginning of the Bronze Age in Crete. The introduction of kiln structures has been held responsible for such a change, perhaps by newcomers to the island, along with other innovative technologies. However, these hypotheses were often based on limited analytical data and mostly on macroscopic examination. This paper re-examines the suggestion of a transformation in firing technology at the beginning of the Bronze Age by presenting analyses of the rich ceramic assemblage from the site of Phaistos in South-Central Crete, which offers a rare, good stratigraphic sequence from the end of the Final Neolithic into the Early Bronze Age. Here, firing technology is reconstructed by macroscopic examination of colour across vessel breaks, by SEM examination and FT-IR analysis. This allows the reconstruction of temperature ranges and firing rates over the phases considered and a re-assessment of changes in firing technology, revealing a more multi-faceted pattern of change. Finally, changes in firing procedure are contextualised in the overall ceramic operational sequence, revealing a complex, stepped picture of change in ceramic production over the transition from the Final Neolithic.

Shared traditions and shard conservatism: pottery making at the Chalcolithic site of Radovanu (Romania)

“…To gain insight on firing atmosphere, the samples were first studied macroscopically by recording colour variability of the surface and of the cross sections within the individual sherds (Rice 2015: 276-290;Mentesana et al 2017;Amicone et al 2020a). In addition, forming and finishing techniques were studied by examining macro-traces left by the potters (Roux 2017).…”

Pyrotechnological connections? Re-investigating the link between pottery firing technology and the origins of metallurgy in the Vinča Culture, Serbia

“…The raw materials and technology involved in the production of the eighty-eight sherds and their decorative finishes was investigated in detail using a combination of macroscopic and instrumental analyses, including thin section petrography, XRPD and SEM. The colour variability within individual sherds was recorded using a Munsell colour chart (Table 2) in order to shed light on their atmosphere of firing (Mentesana, 2017;Rice, 2015, pp. 276-290).…”

Chaîne opératoires and Communities of practice in local ceramic production at Iron Age Monte Iato (Sicily, 6 th -5 th century BCE)

“…Moreover, all pottery has homogeneous colours on the surface showing ring in a well-controlled atmosphere. In archaeology it is often common to reconduct the ceramic ring techniques to open-ring or kilns; this is a simplistic approach that does not recognised the complexity of traditional techniques, as also proved by ethnographic data (Gosselian, 1992;Mentesana et al, 2019). Without clear archaeological evidence it is not possible to reconstruct the ceramic ring techniques at Monte Iato, although the high level of the ceramic production seems to suggest the use of ring structures that allowed a good control of the process, like with a kiln.…”