Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Pottery and Identity in the European Neolithic: The Interpretative Path between Archaeological Features and (Pre)Historical Narratives
Content:
During the Neolithic, the most numerous archaeological remains and one of those of greatest interpretative value is pottery. Not for nothing, the main archaeological entities of the Old continent are defined on the basis of some characteristics of their ceramics: Cardial, LBK, TRBK, SBK, Chasséen, etc. In this session we want to explore the ways that lead us from the recovery and recording of a pot to the interpretation we make of the Style of the pottery collections. This process, that usually implies the description of pottery manufacture, morphology, decoration layout and techniques, results in the identification of “ceramic traditions” classically used as the basis on which human group identities are constructed in Archaeology. Mainly, we want to focus on the underlying principles to the characterisation of these identities, that is, on the definition of differentiated human groups or communities based on the attributes of their pottery assemblages and beyond: what theoretical foundations do we use for the identification of these identities? What analytical procedures do we use to make these interpretations? Are “ceramic traditions” always superimposed with the traditionally defined “cultural groups”? If not, what exactly do these traditions encompass? What taphonomic data do we choose or highlight for defining past identities? What other archaeological criteria are essential to define those groups: chronology, geography, “Neolithic package”, ...? What is the place of systemic studies in the definition of human group identities? And finally, how do we articulate our (pre)historical narratives from the study of pottery? To discuss these challenges, presentations in the realm of Neolithic ceramic studies (e.g. morphology, decoration, raw materials, forming/finishing, uses) carried out in an anthropological perspective, as well as papers integrating pottery analyses with other material, taphonomic or environmental data are welcome.
Keywords:
Neolithic, Europe, Pottery, Identity
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
ÍÑIGO GARCÍA-MARTÍNEZ DE LAGRÁN (Spain) 1
Co-organisers:
Lluis Molina Balaguer (Spain) 2
Claire Manen (France) 3
Antonio F. Carvalho (Portugal) 4
Louise Gomart (France) 3
Affiliations:
1. UNED - National Distance Education University (Spain)
2. Universidad de Valencia
3. CNRS
4. Universidade do Algarve
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