Theme:
1. The Material Record: Current Trends and Future Directions
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
?What Does Pottery Tell Us?? Interpreting the Neolithic Lifestyle in the South of Europe: Traditions, Cultural Identity and Interactions
Content:
The Neolithic was a crucial period in the history of humankind due to all the transformations that took place from economic, environmental, social and symbolic spheres. However, the neolithization was a complex phenomenon that covered various experiences depending on the geographical and socio-economic context.
In the South of Europe, the emergence of the early agro-pastoral societies is likely related to a coastal demic diffusion from East to West. The Neolithic period (6th – 3rd millennia cal BCE.) is characterised by a population increase, the multiplication of longue-distance contacts and specialisation of craftswork.
One of the most abundant sources of information available for this period is pottery. Because of the technological and cultural implications involved in it, pottery, at every step of its manufacture, such as the choice of raw material or the addition of temper, can be a proxy in the understanding of societies. Hence, this remain allows us to explore continuities/ruptures in time, cultural affinities and influences between neolithic groups.
Recent methodological approaches in ceramic studies, like the systematization of technological studies (based on the chaîne opératoire concept), the increase of experimental references or the development of biomolecular analyses, have helped us to update our comprehension about manufacturing process and uses of pottery and, in consequence, about the social implications of this technology.
Therefore, the aim of this session is to create a space for a multidisciplinary debate in where researchers can draw up alternative narratives about the cultural dynamics of Neolithic societies. Some of the possible issues that can be discussed are the following ones:
• Ceramic traditions: know-how, social identities and cultural boundaries.
• Interactions: diffusion of items/knowledge, imitation, acculturation and conservatism.
• Manufacture continuities and innovations through time.
• Raw materials studies.
• Residue analysis: culinary patterns, craft activities, symbolic aspects, …
Keywords:
Neolithic, Southern Europe, Pottery, Chaîne opératoire, Technology, Cultural dynamics
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:
Estíbaliz Espada-Martín (Spain) 1
Co-organisers:
Méline Cattiaux (France) 2,3
Maïlys Turini (France) 4
Affiliations:
1. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
2. Laboratory TRACES (UMR 5608)
3. University Toulouse 2-Jean Jaurès
4. Université Côte d'Azur de Nice, laboratoire du CEPAM (UMR7264, CNRS)
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