Playing with fire: Exploring ceramic pyrotechnology in the Late Neolithic Balkans through an archaeometric and experimental approach

Addressing ceramic pyrotechnology plays a key role in understanding a wide range of cultural and social behaviours associated to pottery production. Firing is the process which transforms clay into ceramic, which is one of the most frequently preserved materials in the majority of Neolithic and later archaeological sites. Though firing temperatures and the functions of various pyrotechnological installations have been extensively investigated in archaeology, both have often been addressed separately. Most of our knowledge on firing structures and procedures in the Neolithic are still largely based on ethnoarchaeological evidence. To move forward, we need to consider all aspects involved in ancient pyrotechnology, together with use of additional investigative tools. This study aims to address Neolithic pottery firing from a diverse perspective that merges archaeometric analyses and experimental archaeology. To demonstrate the potential of this approach, we combined an archaeometric case study of pottery from the late Neolithic (5200–4800 BCE) from the site of Gradište-Iđjoš (Serbia) with experimental pit firings, likely one of the mostly frequently employed firing techniques used in prehistoric periods. Scientific analyses include X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ceramic petrography. These methods were run on both archaeological materials and experimental reproductions. Additionally, a detailed program of firing temperature monitoring, integrated observations on atmospheric conditions, soaking time, and duration were recorded to contribute to the study. The experiments enabled us to collect results useful for our understanding of the pyrotechnological knowledge of Neolithic potters from a technological and social point of view. In addition, they demonstrated the potential of a dedicated methodological framework for studying pottery firing that can be applied to other chronological and cultural contexts

Beneath the surface: Exploring variability in pottery paste recipes within Vinča culture

This study applies thin-section petrography to a wide selection of ceramic and geological samples from four archaeological sites (Belovode, Pločnik, Gradište-Iđjoš, and Potporanj) belonging to both the Neolithic and Chalcolithic phases of the Vinča culture phenomenon (c. 5350 to 4600 BCE) to track intra- and interregional traditions of pottery production with a focus on paste recipes. The results of this study suggest that Vinča pottery manufacturing traditions possess general technical similarities, with significant differences resulting from both environmental constraints and deliberate choices. The comparison of these results with those of other petrographic studies in the Neolithic/Chalcolithic Balkans further emphasises that Vinča pottery reflects numerous communities of practice that fall under the umbrella of 'Vinča culture'. This is visible in the varying processes of selecting and manipulating raw materials for ceramic production. Therefore, differences between Vinča pottery assemblages reflect various models of interaction between people and their landscape as well as different technological traditions. Overall, this approach allows us to discuss the problem of similarities and differences in material culture from a perspective that emphasises the socially constructed nature of ceramics