Production and function of Neolithic black-painted pottery from Schela Cladovei (Iron Gates, Romania)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Production and function of Neolithic black-painted pottery from Schela Cladovei (Iron Gates, Romania)

AU - Spataro, Michela

AU - Cubas, Miriam

AU - Craig, Oliver E.

AU - Chapman, John C.

AU - Boroneanţ, Adina

AU - Bonsall, Clive

PY - 2019/11/1

Y1 - 2019/11/1

N2 - This paper presents for the first time the results of a combination of petrographic, geochemical and organic residue analyses of early Neolithic ceramics from the Iron Gates region of the Danube basin. Eleven early Neolithic potsherds from Schela Cladovei (Romania) were analysed in detail. The results of the petrographic analysis show that the ceramics were made with the same recipe that was used by Starčevo-Körös-Criș potters elsewhere in southeastern Europe. The SEM-EDX analysis shows one of the earliest uses of Mn-rich black pigments to decorate Neolithic European ceramics. Organic residue analyses detected dairy, non-ruminant and ruminant adipose fats. No evidence of aquatic resources was detected. In summary, the early Neolithic potters at the Iron Gates, although able to make coarse and more sophisticated painted ceramics, did not make specific vessels for a specific use.

AB - This paper presents for the first time the results of a combination of petrographic, geochemical and organic residue analyses of early Neolithic ceramics from the Iron Gates region of the Danube basin. Eleven early Neolithic potsherds from Schela Cladovei (Romania) were analysed in detail. The results of the petrographic analysis show that the ceramics were made with the same recipe that was used by Starčevo-Körös-Criș potters elsewhere in southeastern Europe. The SEM-EDX analysis shows one of the earliest uses of Mn-rich black pigments to decorate Neolithic European ceramics. Organic residue analyses detected dairy, non-ruminant and ruminant adipose fats. No evidence of aquatic resources was detected. In summary, the early Neolithic potters at the Iron Gates, although able to make coarse and more sophisticated painted ceramics, did not make specific vessels for a specific use.

KW - Ceramic technology

KW - Early Neolithic

KW - GC-c-IRMS

KW - GC-MS

KW - Polarised microscopy

KW - Pottery paint

KW - SEM-EDX

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072045916&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s12520-019-00918-0

DO - 10.1007/s12520-019-00918-0

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85072045916

SN - 1866-9557

VL - 11

SP - 6287

EP - 6304

JO - Archaeol. Anthropol. Sci.

JF - Archaeol. Anthropol. Sci.

IS - 11

ER -