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Many significant research results have recently been achieved in studies on the Early and Middle Copper Age in the Carpathian Basin (4500–3700 cal BC). One of these is a new chronological framework partly based on the disputing of traditional stylistic separation. Three settlements have recently been analysed in the Budapest Region: Budapest–Dobogókő street, Rákoscsaba–Majorhegy and Budapest–Növény street. These sites were defined by three ceramic styles: Ludanice, Protoboleráz, and Furchenstich. However, using the traditional typological approach, we cannot identify long-term technical traditions and real social connections, what would be crucial to do given the geographic and chronological proximity of the sites.
Thus, a technological analysis was carried out on the ceramic assemblages to identify forming techniques which appear to be resistant to change. This is in absolute contrast with the rapidly changing pottery forms and decorative styles. It is caused by the fact that the necessary motoric and cognitive skills become automatic during the learning process which always takes place in socially connected communities of practices. Therefore, social relationships can be detected by examining long-term fashioning traditions.
The technological analysis of the pottery assemblage excavated at the three settlements enables us to understand Copper Age pottery production practices and the transmission of knowledge in the domestic sphere. Similarities or differences in ceramic fabrication can reveal communities of practices that might be linked with other regions in the Carpathian Basin. Thus, this strongly contributes to the understanding the Budapest Region’s intra- and extra-regional connections. Our contribution aims to re-examine the relationship between technological data and ceramic styles to understand more about the hidden patterns of cultural and social embeddedness.

EAA 2023: Abstract

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