Content:
More than 1,700 vessels dating from the Early Iron Age were discovered in two pits in Ittenheim (France). This huge quantity of sherds, discarded at the same place and during a short time interval, offers a strong recurrence without any spatial or chronological distortion. This gives the opportunity to question pottery intended function and actual use, referring to Skibo’s work.
A functional typology was first based on descriptors related to the intended function of the vessels: morphology, technology, decoration. Several steps were necessary to develop the typology. In the end, 1,285 vessels were classed into 13 groups. Referring to Rice and Skibo’s works, the characteristics of each type were analyzed to suggest one or more possible functions: cooking, storage, preparation and service of liquids etc.
The most interesting part of the discussion is provided by a comparison with use-alteration traces. They are indeed specific and recurrent within each functional type. It reveals that several vessels among each type were used in a same way, this way being different from another type. Thus, use-alteration traces validate the groups and lead to discuss the correlation between the theoretical function and the actual use of ceramics. Moreover, one can question the way potters adapted their chaînes opératoires to a theoretical consumers’ need. Beyond interesting methodological aspects, one reconstructs behaviors related to daily food processing and consumption. For example, this study suggests boiled food consumption and fermented beverages preparation. Some vessels have complex biographies, as they have been perforated afterwards to become filters. In this case, intended function and actual use do not correlate. In the end, this case study gives a rich understanding of how people made pottery, ate, and adapted their vessels to their needs. It is also helpful to discuss the signification one can give to a pottery typology.
Keywords:
Pottery-making, Pottery function, Use-alteration traces, Early Iron Age, Food consumption, Pottery typology