The role of pottery in Middle Neolithic societies of western Mediterranean (Sardinia, Italy, 4500-4000 cal BC) revealed through an integrated morphometric, use-wear, biomolecular and isotopic approach

Pottery use in the mining site of variscite Mines de Gavà (Barcelona, Spain) during the 4th millennium BC based on organic residue analysis

“…These results were compared with those obtained for the pottery studied from the analysis of organic residues in ceramics from other domestic sites. In the review of vessels from Southern European Neolithic sites that combine morphometric and biomolecular studies (Drieu, 2017;Fanti et al, 2018;Matlova et al, 2017;Šoberl et al, 2014;Vieugué et al, 2008), we can see a higher volumetric mean size (from > 2.5 L to < 5 L) with regard to the vessels analyzed in Mines de Gavà, being able to distinguish different functional categories that respond to the service, processing and storage of both solid and liquid products. The relative homogeneity of volumes for the pottery from Mines de Gavà may thus be due to the mining context and could respond to particular functions.…”

A pottery biography: considering the entire lifecycle of a pot in organic residue analysis

“…Indeed, some short chain lipids, which are more soluble in water than their long chain homologues, are more likely to be carried by water. This is true of the linear alcohol C 18 OH, which remained difficult to interpret in archaeological potsherds (Drieu et al, 2021;Fanti et al, 2018;Roumpou et al, 2003). Its joint presence in potsherds and sediments of the Pendimoun rock-shelter suggests that it may be attributable to contamination from the sediment (Drieu et al, unpublished data).…”

“…The use of organic residue analyses as part of an in-depth functional approach, combining the study of vessel shapes and dimensions, physical properties of the ceramic paste, and use-wear analysis (Rice, 1987, p. 211-243;Skibo, 2013) is also effective. For example, it has been used to discuss possible surface treatments in a vessel that was not shaped for cooking and did not show traces of soot but delivered mid-chain ketones (Fanti et al, 2018).…”

The Missing Step of Pottery chaîne opératoire: Considering Post-firing Treatments on Ceramic Vessels Using Macro- and Microscopic Observation and Molecular Analysis

“…The present study stresses the need for a careful observation of archaeological potsherds (both surface and edges) before any extraction for organic residue analysis, to check for evidence of the use of the vessel as cooking pot or aspects of post-firing treatment. For example, when no foodcrust or external traces of sooting are identified on potsherds that have yield long chain ketones (Craig et al 2005a;Fanti et al 2018) but uniform darkening of the surface and the edges are observed, thermal transformation markers could be related to post-firing treatments with fatty materials, rather than cooking. Similarly, the detection of thermal transformation markers in pottery with properties that make their use on fire unlikely suggests post-firing treatments.…”