Papers by Andreja Kudelić
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2025
The incrustation technique used to decorate ceramic vessels was a widespread practice in prehisto... more The incrustation technique used to decorate ceramic vessels was a widespread practice in prehistoric pottery throughout Europe, particularly popular during the Copper and Bronze Age in Pannonia and the Balkans. Although several studies have been carried out on the composition of the inlay, the application procedure was still unknown, especially related to the binder and the method of fixing the inlay. This research proposes for the first time the recipe, technique and manufacturing sequence of the white inlay used to decorate pottery, supported by the application of integrated analytical methods and an archaeological experiment. Analysis of the inlay composition preserved on the Copper and Bronze Age ceramics from Croatia shows similar recipes to those recorded in the Pannonian Basin, revealing three basic components: hydroxyapatite (bone material), aragonite (mollusc shells) and calcite. According to the proposed hypothesis, burning (endothermic reaction) of these raw materials at temperatures above 700 • C and slaking (exothermic reaction) should result in plastic, but durable and solid material i.e. lime-based plaster. Experiments have confirmed that the proposed hypothesis of producing the plaster from mollusc shells and the bone material represents the basic technological procedure by which the incrustation was made and applied to the ceramic vessels.
Annales Instituti Archaeologici , 2024
This paper investigates the raw materials, techniques, and use of Bronze Age pottery from the Dug... more This paper investigates the raw materials, techniques, and use of Bronze Age pottery from the Dugiš site in Otok near Sinj, Croatia, which was excavated in the 1950s. It includes a mineralogical and petrographic analysis of ceramics from one part of the collection (quadrant XIII) to characterize the clay paste. The study also encompasses an examination of manufacturing techniques and a categorization of traces of forming and surface treatment of ceramic vessels. The objective is to identify the characteristics of the raw materials used for pottery production at the Dugiš site and to compare these with pottery recipes and production techniques in the broader Dalmatian region. Furthermore, use-wear traces on the vessels were analysed in order to better understand their use in everyday activities.
Preliminary results indicate a high degree of homogeneity in the production of Bronze Age ceramics at the Dugiš site, with an emphasis on the use of locally available raw materials and the application of specific production techniques and firing methods. This homogeneity in pottery production reflects the presence of well-organized communities capable of effectively coordinating craftsmen, resources, and needs. Additionally, the pottery exhibits numerous use-wear traces, suggesting frequent use of the vessels in activities such as thermal processing of food and fermentation of their stored contents.
Geologia Croatica, 2024
The choice of the raw materials used in ancient pottery production is conditioned by various tech... more The choice of the raw materials used in ancient pottery production is conditioned by various technological and cultural factors which makes characterization of these raw materials essential for understanding the technology of ancient societies. This research, therefore, presents the study of ancient ceramics from two multi-period archaeological sites Staro Čiče-Gradišće (Neolithic, Copper Age, Copper/Early Bronze Age, Early Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, Roman period, and Late Mediaeval period) and Kurilovec-Belinščica (Early Bronze Age and Middle/Late Bronze Age) and potential clayey raw materials collected near the settlements. By applying the multi-analytical approach (optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, mass and emission spectrometry, and laser granulometry), the research aims to determine the characteristics of the paste recipes (raw clay and tempers) and to examine the type and provenience of the raw materials used for ancient pottery production over different periods of the past (from the Neolithic to the Late Mediaeval period). The results showed that ancient potters preferred sandy clay while the use of inclusions-poor clay is especially related to the Bronze Age. Communities used various, non-plastic tempering materials (sands and gravels, grog, mollusc shells) the choice of which was conditioned by the improvement of technological features but also by the regional pottery traditions. Most of the ceramics are of local origin, made from easily available raw materials that represent flood sediments of the nearby Sava River. Material of non-local origin was detected in Neolithic samples indicating exchange networks present among those communities.
Vjesnik Arheološkog muzeja u Zagrebu, 2023
The paper presents the results of archaeometric analysis of pottery from several Bronze Age sites... more The paper presents the results of archaeometric analysis of pottery from several Bronze Age sites in the area of central Dalmatia. A mineralogical-petrographic analysis of 38 thin sections of ceramics was carried out using the method of optical microscopy, while the mineral composition of a smaller number of samples was determined using the X-ray powder diffraction method. The research provided data on the characteristics of the clay raw material, the type and proportion of non-plastic tempers intentionally added to the clay, and information on the production techniques and firing temperatures. The research showed that Bronze Age potters very likely used local, easily available clay and non-plastic temper material: calcite, sedimentary rocks and grog. By considering technological choices, changes in pottery practices between the first and last phases of the Bronze Age were observed. The long-term tradition of using calcite is evident, which becomes a dominant tempering material in the last phase of the Bronze Age. On the other hand, since the Early Bronze Age, potters have used grog, either alone or in combination with calcite and, more rarely, crushed sedimentary rocks, and this practice seems to have been slowly abandoned since the Late Bronze Age. The results therefore indicate a correlation between tempering material selection with chronological patterns, that is, such a practice could be related to the periodic influences of various social factors.
Annales Instituti Archaeologici, 2023
The paper examines the characteristics of the Early Bronze Age ceramic fabric in continental Croa... more The paper examines the characteristics of the Early Bronze Age ceramic fabric in continental Croatia as an expression of specific and characteristic technological choices. The research is based on a newly conducted analysis of ceramics from the Kurilovec - Belinščica site and the existing results of pottery research from the wider region. The paper presents a macroscopic description of the ceramic fabrics and the results of the analysis of thin sections by optical microscopy method with the aim of a scientifically based definition of its technological features. The aim is to use the method of comparison of technological and individual stylistic characteristics of Early Bronze Age ceramic material to single out specific features of pottery practice, whose chronological placement is also confirmed by radiocarbon dating.
Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 2023
The article presents a group of Bronze Age artefacts recovered from the Drava river wetlands in c... more The article presents a group of Bronze Age artefacts recovered from the Drava river wetlands in continental Croatia, examining their typological and chronological markers, and assessing the technological characteristics of the material through spectrometric and use-wear analyses. We discuss the context of the finds, types of items retrieved and deposition locations, and how these fit into the patterns of European Bronze Age metal deposition practices. Compositional and metalwork use analyses indicate that most of the items were in use prior to their deposition and display solid metallurgical skill. Chronologically, typologically, compositionally, and conceptually, the items align with the depositional trends seen in the wider region and beyond.
Rudarsko-geološko-naftni zbornik (The Mining-Geology-Petroleum Engineering Bulletin), 2023
Considerations of multiperiod archaeological sites to understand the mechanisms of large-scale cu... more Considerations of multiperiod archaeological sites to understand the mechanisms of large-scale cultural changes are still a very rare research topic in Croatia. Technological traditions are of great importance, especially in the context of considering continuity, innovation, and change. In this paper, we used an archaeometric approach to investigate pottery technology. Therefore, this article presents an analysis of petrography and mineralogy of archaeological ceramics and potential raw materials collected in the vicinity of the multi-period archaeological site (the Neolithic through the Medieval period) Jagodnjak-Krčevine located in eastern Croatia, i.e. the southwestern part of the Pannonian Basin. The primary goal is to determine what kind of clay recipe (clay and temper) potters used to make vessels in order to better understand their variability in the context of techno-functional features. The additional objective is to examine the availability and quality of clays for pottery production and to study their distribution in the local landscape. The analytical methods applied in the research are optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and grain size analysis. The comparison of archaeological ceramics with clayey materials established that ancient potters used locally available clays, and the selection of temper material added to the clay represents a strong element of techno-tradition, which is more pronounced for prehistoric communities. Furthermore, these results represent the first research in Croatia focused on a discussion about distances that potters travelled to obtain their resources in the different periods of the past, which can contribute to the study of a regional system of production and landscape use.
Annales Instituti Archaeologici, 2022
The paper examines various ceramic objects found in the context of hearths at Late Bronze Age sit... more The paper examines various ceramic objects found in the context of hearths at Late Bronze Age sites in continental Croatia. These are tripod pans, ceramic andirons, and portable stoves. The paper presents unpublished artefacts from the Kalnik – Igrišče site and discusses their function and significance within Bronze Age households. By examining the morphology and use-wear traces of hearth-related ceramic objects during the Middle and especially Late Bronze Age, specific patterns and changes in the practice of using such objects were observed as indicators of changes in the food preparation process. On the other hand, such changes can also be linked to socio-economic circumstances that are part of regional cultural influences.
Annales Instituti Archaeologici, 2021
U radu se donose rezultati arheološke analize tehnika oblikovanja kasnobrončanodobne lončarije ko... more U radu se donose rezultati arheološke analize tehnika oblikovanja kasnobrončanodobne lončarije koja je provedena na keramičkim
ulomcima s nalazišta Kalnik – Igrišče. Riječ je o keramici iz posljednje faze kasnoga brončanog doba ili mlađe faze
kulture polja sa žarama. U radu se razmatraju tragovi nastali tijekom postupka izrade posude, od tehnika gradnje, obrade
površine, ukrašavanja do postupka pečenja posuda. Rezultati arheološke analize pokazuju da je primarna tehnika izrade
posuda na samom kraju brončanog doba bila osnovana na starim tradicijama kakve su uočene još tijekom starije faze kulture
polja sa žarama, no uočene su i nove, drugačije prakse.
The paper presents the results of the archaeological analysis of Late Bronze Age pottery making techniques, carried out on the
potsherds from the Kalnik – Igrišče site. It is pottery from the last phase of the Late Bronze Age or the younger phase of the
Urnfield culture. The paper discusses the trace evidence of the making of vessels, from building techniques, surface treatment
and decoration, to the process of firing vessels. The results of the archaeological analysis show that the primary vessel making
technique at the very end of the Bronze Age was based on the old traditions, already observed in the older phase of the Urnfield
culture, but new and different practices have also been observed.
ZBORNIK INSTITUTA ZA ARHEOLOGIJU SERTA INSTITUTI ARCHAEOLOGICI KNJIGA / VOLUME XV, 2020
U radu su prikazani rezultati preliminarne analize ulomaka keramike na osnovi kojih je provedena ... more U radu su prikazani rezultati preliminarne analize ulomaka keramike na osnovi kojih je provedena karakterizacija lončarskih smjesa korištenih za izradu posuda licenskih karakteristika i posuda Kisapostag kulture iz brončanog doba. Na manjem broju uzoraka napravljena je petrografsko-mineraloška analiza, a na većem broju makroskopska analiza dokumentirana makrofotografijom svježeg loma uzorka. Analiza je napravljena na keramičkom materijalu s nekoliko nalazišta na području Podravine i Posavine. Rezultati upućuju na korištenje lokalnih, lako dostupnih izvora sirovine te na praksu namjernog dodavanja čestica stijena veličine pijeska i šljunka u glinovitu smjesu vrlo dobre kvalitete.
Annales Instituti Archaeologici, 2020
U radu se donose rezultati arheoloških istraživanja koja su provedena 2010. godine na nalazištu C... more U radu se donose rezultati arheoloških istraživanja koja su provedena 2010. godine na nalazištu Crkvišće – Bukovlje. Arheološkim
iskopavanjima otkriven je vrlo mali dio prapovijesnoga naselja, no na osnovi analize stratigrafije i arheoloških
tvorevina, ali i tipološko-kronološke analize lončarije izvedeni su zaključci o razdoblju trajanja naselja kao i pojedinosti o
organizaciji naselja, strukturi bedema kao i vjerojatnome položaju objekata u naselju. Na osnovi analize lončarskoga stila
ustanovljeno je kako se naseljavanje ovoga položaja dogodilo u razdoblju mlađe faze kulture polja sa žarama, što se podudara
s rezultatima do sada istraženih sličnih gradinskih položaja uz rijeke regije Pokuplja.
The paper presents the results of archaeological research conducted in 2010 at the site of Crkvišće – Bukovlje. The archaeological
excavations revealed a very small part of the prehistoric settlement; however, the analysis of stratigraphy and archaeological
artefacts, but also the typological and chronological analysis of pottery, have led to conclusions about the time period of the
settlement and details about the organization of the settlement, the structure of the ramparts, and the probable positions of
structures in the settlement. The analysis of the pottery style has established that the site was settled in the younger phase of the
Urnfield culture, which coincides with the results of the exploration of similar hillfort sites along the rivers of the Pokuplje
region.
Environmental Archaeology, 2021
Bronze Age agriculture in Europe is marked by the adoption of new crops, such as broomcorn millet... more Bronze Age agriculture in Europe is marked by the adoption of new crops, such as broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), broad bean (Vicia faba) and gold-of-pleasure (Camelina sativa). Yet, at a regional level, it is sometimes unclear when, where and why these crops are adopted and whether they were all adopted at the same time. Croatia is one such region where archaeobotanical research is limited, making it difficult to discuss Bronze Age agriculture and diet in more detail. The discovery of a burnt-down house with crop stores at Kalnik-Igrišče provides a unique archaeobotanical assemblage and snapshot of late Bronze Age agriculture (1000-800 BC). From the carbonised plant remains discovered at Kalnik-Igrišče we see a dominance in the crops broomcorn millet, barley (Hordeum vulgare), free-threshing wheat (Triticum aestivum/durum/turgidum) and broad bean. Emmer (Triticum dicoccum), spelt (Triticum spelta), and lentil (Lens culinaris) were also found, suggesting they were probably minor crops, while spatial analysis indicates distinct crop storage areas within the building. Overall, these finds support the adoption and integration of these new crops within northern Croatia by the late Bronze Age, while highlighting implications for seasonal strategies, risk management, and cultural dietary choice.
Obavijesti Hrvatskog arheološkog društva, 2018
Recent Developments in Archaeometry and Archaeological Methodology in South- Eastern Europe, Miloglav, I (ed.), Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020
The paper presents the results of research into ceramic production, which includes forming techni... more The paper presents the results of research into ceramic production, which includes forming techniques, surface treatments and decoration techniques, within the framework of extensive research on the Bronze Age ceramic production in northern Croatia.
Annales Instituti Archaeology, 2019
Znanstveno-edukativni i popularni program pod nazivom Prapovijesno lončarstvo: interdisciplinarno... more Znanstveno-edukativni i popularni program pod nazivom Prapovijesno lončarstvo: interdisciplinarnost i eksperiment organiziran je u sklopu programa popularizacije znanosti koji se provodi u suradnji Centra za eksperimentalnu arheologiju, Instituta za arheologiju i Odsjeka za arheologiju Filozofskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, financiranoga od strane Ministarstva znanosti i obrazovanja RH. Cilj je kroz više znanstvenih disciplina te brisanjem granica među njima, sinergijom znanja iz arheologije, geologije i etnologije, shvatiti čitav postupak proizvodnje keramičkih posuda u prošlosti, a glavna metoda za postizanje ciljeva je arheološki eksperiment. Cilj programa je i sveobuhvatnije razumjeti arheološku građu kako bi se znanja mogla kvalitetnije primijeniti, ali i prenijeti javnosti.
Annales Instituti Archaeology, 2019
Tijekom 2017. i 2018. godine Institut za arheologiju nastavio je sa sustavnim arheološkim iskopav... more Tijekom 2017. i 2018. godine Institut za arheologiju nastavio je sa sustavnim arheološkim iskopavanjem na lokalitetu Kalnik–Igrišče. Ispod arheoloških zapisa koji ukazuju da se na tom prostoru, tijekom kasnog Ha B stupnja prema relativnoj kronologiji, odvijala metalurška aktivnost, otkriveno je višeslojno urušenje starijeg objekta stambeno-radnog karaktera koji se također datira u Ha B stupanj. Osim toga, istraženi su i ostaci objekta iz prijelaza Ha A u Ha B stupanj koji je dijelom oštećen graditeljskim intervencijama iz mlađe faze kulture polja sa žarama. Arheološki je ustanovljen snažan kontinuitet života tijekom kasnog brončanog doba, a karakter nalaza kao i promjene u načinu korištenja prostora pokazatelj su dinamičnih drušveno-gospodarskih promjena.
Annales Instituti Archaeologici XV, 2019
Tijekom svibnja 2017. i kolovoza 2018. godine na položaju Kurilovec – Belinščica proveden je sust... more Tijekom svibnja 2017. i kolovoza 2018. godine na položaju Kurilovec – Belinščica proveden je sustavni terenski pregled s intenzivnim površinskim uzorkovanjem. Cilj je bio utvrditi distribuciju i značajke površinskoga arheološkog materijala. Na temelju preliminarne analize prikupljenih podataka moguće je izdvojiti područja s intenzivnijom pojavom površinskih nalaza, kao i ona na kojima učestalost površinskoga materijala primjetno opada. Utoliko je primijećeno da se distribucija poklapa s pružanjem manjega uzvišenja na kojem je smješteno brončanodobno naselje čije su granice precizno utvrđene tijekom prijašnjih istraživanja.
Opuscula archaeologica 39/40, 2018
Keywords: archaeometry, pottery, Bronze Age, cultural
group Virovitica, Turopolje, Podravina
Opuscula archaeologica 39/40, 2018
This paper presents the use of the data obtained by terrestrial topographic survey in analysis an... more This paper presents the use of the data obtained by terrestrial topographic survey in analysis and assessment of archaeological potential of lowland areas. The analysis is based on investigation of relief features of the site Kurilovec-Belinščica, which is located in the lowland area of Turopolje region. By comparison with the data acquired from terrestrial topographic survey carried out prior to archaeological excavations in the south part of the city of Osijek, it is presented how the obtained results can contribute to analysis and interpretation of the results of archaeological excavations. Based on the conclusions of the study, new guidelines are suggested for documenting archaeological sites which can expand the methodological approach of acquiring data before conducting archaeological excavations.
Vjesnik arheološkog muzeja u Zagrebu, 2017
Ključne riječi: keramika, tehnologija, metodologija,
digitalni mikroskop, lončarska
smjesa, glino... more Ključne riječi: keramika, tehnologija, metodologija,
digitalni mikroskop, lončarska
smjesa, glinoviti materijal, primjese, brončano
doba
Key words: pottery, technology, methodology,
digital microscope, ceramic paste, clayey material,
temper, Bronze Age
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Papers by Andreja Kudelić
Preliminary results indicate a high degree of homogeneity in the production of Bronze Age ceramics at the Dugiš site, with an emphasis on the use of locally available raw materials and the application of specific production techniques and firing methods. This homogeneity in pottery production reflects the presence of well-organized communities capable of effectively coordinating craftsmen, resources, and needs. Additionally, the pottery exhibits numerous use-wear traces, suggesting frequent use of the vessels in activities such as thermal processing of food and fermentation of their stored contents.
ulomcima s nalazišta Kalnik – Igrišče. Riječ je o keramici iz posljednje faze kasnoga brončanog doba ili mlađe faze
kulture polja sa žarama. U radu se razmatraju tragovi nastali tijekom postupka izrade posude, od tehnika gradnje, obrade
površine, ukrašavanja do postupka pečenja posuda. Rezultati arheološke analize pokazuju da je primarna tehnika izrade
posuda na samom kraju brončanog doba bila osnovana na starim tradicijama kakve su uočene još tijekom starije faze kulture
polja sa žarama, no uočene su i nove, drugačije prakse.
The paper presents the results of the archaeological analysis of Late Bronze Age pottery making techniques, carried out on the
potsherds from the Kalnik – Igrišče site. It is pottery from the last phase of the Late Bronze Age or the younger phase of the
Urnfield culture. The paper discusses the trace evidence of the making of vessels, from building techniques, surface treatment
and decoration, to the process of firing vessels. The results of the archaeological analysis show that the primary vessel making
technique at the very end of the Bronze Age was based on the old traditions, already observed in the older phase of the Urnfield
culture, but new and different practices have also been observed.
iskopavanjima otkriven je vrlo mali dio prapovijesnoga naselja, no na osnovi analize stratigrafije i arheoloških
tvorevina, ali i tipološko-kronološke analize lončarije izvedeni su zaključci o razdoblju trajanja naselja kao i pojedinosti o
organizaciji naselja, strukturi bedema kao i vjerojatnome položaju objekata u naselju. Na osnovi analize lončarskoga stila
ustanovljeno je kako se naseljavanje ovoga položaja dogodilo u razdoblju mlađe faze kulture polja sa žarama, što se podudara
s rezultatima do sada istraženih sličnih gradinskih položaja uz rijeke regije Pokuplja.
The paper presents the results of archaeological research conducted in 2010 at the site of Crkvišće – Bukovlje. The archaeological
excavations revealed a very small part of the prehistoric settlement; however, the analysis of stratigraphy and archaeological
artefacts, but also the typological and chronological analysis of pottery, have led to conclusions about the time period of the
settlement and details about the organization of the settlement, the structure of the ramparts, and the probable positions of
structures in the settlement. The analysis of the pottery style has established that the site was settled in the younger phase of the
Urnfield culture, which coincides with the results of the exploration of similar hillfort sites along the rivers of the Pokuplje
region.
digitalni mikroskop, lončarska
smjesa, glinoviti materijal, primjese, brončano
doba
Key words: pottery, technology, methodology,
digital microscope, ceramic paste, clayey material,
temper, Bronze Age
Preliminary results indicate a high degree of homogeneity in the production of Bronze Age ceramics at the Dugiš site, with an emphasis on the use of locally available raw materials and the application of specific production techniques and firing methods. This homogeneity in pottery production reflects the presence of well-organized communities capable of effectively coordinating craftsmen, resources, and needs. Additionally, the pottery exhibits numerous use-wear traces, suggesting frequent use of the vessels in activities such as thermal processing of food and fermentation of their stored contents.
ulomcima s nalazišta Kalnik – Igrišče. Riječ je o keramici iz posljednje faze kasnoga brončanog doba ili mlađe faze
kulture polja sa žarama. U radu se razmatraju tragovi nastali tijekom postupka izrade posude, od tehnika gradnje, obrade
površine, ukrašavanja do postupka pečenja posuda. Rezultati arheološke analize pokazuju da je primarna tehnika izrade
posuda na samom kraju brončanog doba bila osnovana na starim tradicijama kakve su uočene još tijekom starije faze kulture
polja sa žarama, no uočene su i nove, drugačije prakse.
The paper presents the results of the archaeological analysis of Late Bronze Age pottery making techniques, carried out on the
potsherds from the Kalnik – Igrišče site. It is pottery from the last phase of the Late Bronze Age or the younger phase of the
Urnfield culture. The paper discusses the trace evidence of the making of vessels, from building techniques, surface treatment
and decoration, to the process of firing vessels. The results of the archaeological analysis show that the primary vessel making
technique at the very end of the Bronze Age was based on the old traditions, already observed in the older phase of the Urnfield
culture, but new and different practices have also been observed.
iskopavanjima otkriven je vrlo mali dio prapovijesnoga naselja, no na osnovi analize stratigrafije i arheoloških
tvorevina, ali i tipološko-kronološke analize lončarije izvedeni su zaključci o razdoblju trajanja naselja kao i pojedinosti o
organizaciji naselja, strukturi bedema kao i vjerojatnome položaju objekata u naselju. Na osnovi analize lončarskoga stila
ustanovljeno je kako se naseljavanje ovoga položaja dogodilo u razdoblju mlađe faze kulture polja sa žarama, što se podudara
s rezultatima do sada istraženih sličnih gradinskih položaja uz rijeke regije Pokuplja.
The paper presents the results of archaeological research conducted in 2010 at the site of Crkvišće – Bukovlje. The archaeological
excavations revealed a very small part of the prehistoric settlement; however, the analysis of stratigraphy and archaeological
artefacts, but also the typological and chronological analysis of pottery, have led to conclusions about the time period of the
settlement and details about the organization of the settlement, the structure of the ramparts, and the probable positions of
structures in the settlement. The analysis of the pottery style has established that the site was settled in the younger phase of the
Urnfield culture, which coincides with the results of the exploration of similar hillfort sites along the rivers of the Pokuplje
region.
digitalni mikroskop, lončarska
smjesa, glinoviti materijal, primjese, brončano
doba
Key words: pottery, technology, methodology,
digital microscope, ceramic paste, clayey material,
temper, Bronze Age
Through the application of analytical methods, this research will try to determine the characteristics and origin of pottery raw materials as well as the technological features of the production process in order to create the basis for considering the variability in the presented pottery tradition. Such physical features are the product of a series of technological and functional, but also culturally conditioned principles woven into the production process, which represents a very characteristic pottery practice. By studying the technology of production, from the choice of raw materials to the techniques of production, and getting to know the differences in technological choices, a better understanding of the interrelationships of communities with potentially present different pottery traditions will be enabled.
The case study was made on ceramics from two sites – Torčec-Prečno pole I and Hlebine-Dedanovice) – both of which show potentially different pottery practices in the period from the end of the 6th to the middle of the second half of the 7th century. The selected samples belong to kitchen ceramics, i.e. cooking vessels, some of which were made without rotation, and some on the potter's wheel with slow rotation.
In this context, the large number of mov able finds discovered inside the cistern is very indicative, of which there are especially numerous remains of ceramic vessels, which are estimated to belong to more than 570 pots. It is assumed that these are worn, broken and discarded pottery used during the last stages of life in the castle. Considering technological and functional features of ceramic vessels, this study aims to better understand the technology of production, use and distribution of pottery as one of the indicators of the principle of sustaining life inside the fort.
The paper therefore presents the preliminary results of the mineralogical-petrographic analysis of two groups of cooking pots and a group of tableware. The goal is to establish the composition of the clay pastes used to make such vessels as well as the techniques of their production. In addition, by analysing the wear traces on the vessels surface we will try to establish the intensity and manner of their use. Since technological procedures and morphology directly affect the function of the vessels, a comparative consideration of both parameters will enable better understanding of the potters' technological choices, but also of the manner in which the vessels were used and discarded inside the Vrbovec castle.
By applying a multi-analytical approach (optical microscopy, p-XRF, SEM-EDS, and ICP-MS, ICP-ES) the goal is to determine the characteristics of paste recipes, the type and proportion of non-plastic tempers intentionally added to the clay, and to provide information on the production techniques and firing conditions. Through a comparative analysis, the aim is to consider the variability in pottery practice from the Early to the end of the Late Bronze Age in order to better understand the wide range of behaviours that are directly related to ancient pottery produced in a certain social environment.
The research showed that the Bronze Age potters used locally available clay and non-plastic temper materials: calcite, sedimentary rocks and grog. The results indicate a correlation between tempering material selection with spatial and chronological frameworks. It has also been observed that the choice of calcite shows a long-lasting and very persistent tradition while the use of grog could be related to the periodic influences of various social factors.
This paper presents the results of compositional analysis of a white paste inlay used for decorating Copper and Bronze Age pottery in continental Croatia, applying optical microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy analytical methods. However, critical new knowledge has been established through archaeological experiments conducted in controlled and real conditions using raw materials (animal bones, deer antlers and river Mollusc shells) found by analytical methods. The result showed that no special binder is needed and that the material's homogenisation and strength resulted from applying one of the oldest chemical processes known to man – slaking of quicklime.
Additionally, a social mark is reflected in the physical properties of specific raw materials used to make different inlay recipes, emphasising the traditional practices and cultural identity specific to a particular community. Moreover, the conditions in which such paste could have been prepared indicate the cross-craft interactions linking these and other activities open up new possibilities for interpreting and understanding past communities.
Even though the archaeological features are partly destroyed due to recent electricity installations and past archaeological and geological excavations, the applied excavation method revealed intact deposits throughout the entire excavated area, changing the previous knowledge about the cave use. The strategy of analytical processing of the artefacts had to reconcile the impact of pathway usage affecting vertical and horizontal displacements of a significant amount of Bronze Age movable finds. Therefore, the post-excavation method proved essential for a more detailed understanding of the use of the cave, including pottery refitting (3.5 tons) and the distribution analysis of other valuable artefacts in relation to the distribution of primary context features (hearths).
Preliminary results of the archaeometric analysis indicated that raw material was probably collected in the vicinity of the settlement, during all periods of the past recorded at the site. However, certain preferences were observed, concerning not only the tempering material used, but also the choice of raw material sources and clay processing, that match different communities. Such diversity in the choice of raw materials indicates not only technological but also different patterns of landscape use over time.
The paper will present the project and methodological concept according to which over the next five years it is planned to conduct extended research on Bronze Age (2400-800 BC) pottery traditions on the territory of Croatia. A large-scale and well-designed systematic archaeometry research programme will be combined with macroscopic physical forms of examination of already excavated ceramic material. The study of pottery throughout its lifecycle from raw material selection, different stages of production, to distribution and use, and final discard, will provide valuable research contributions, but it also represents a huge data set. Therefore, the methodological challenges, as well as the challenges arising from the nature of the processed material, will be presented too. Accordingly, interdisciplinary (mis)understanding, the correlation of different data sets, quantification methods, and digitalization of such data currently present the biggest challenges. In that sense, awareness of the advantages but also limitations of analytical methods and a well-formed theoretical framework, research questions, and hypotheses are key parameters of an optimal methodological approach.
The process of designing and conducting the experiment has shown that the research questions, as well as the dynamics of deliberate and controlled experiments, had become more and more complex. It was also shown that such effective approach is a good tool that leads us very close to the concept of choices made by the potter, which ultimately lead to the much more complex interpretations that move within technical, technological and social explications.
purpose of a more comprehensive understanding of the prehistoric pottery production mechanisms during the Copper and Bronze Age. The program contains an educational-research and popular part and is intended primarily for students of archaeology with the aim of studying the pottery through the prism of technological, functional and social aspects.
The exhibition strives to display the modes in which our ancestors recycled materials and reused objects, and how that concept affected past cultures. Seeing as recycling is a highly complex, but also a universal phenomenon, whether seen from today’s point of view or within the scope of past cultures and communities, the exhibition strives to bridge these temporal gaps through thematic and artistic units. The rich archaeological heritage provided a selection of finds made of different materials (stone, bone, pottery, glass and metal), that are portrayed through several thematic units: the transformation of space, the materials and symbolic recycling. The displayed examples of recycling, the reuse and the repairing of objects, are the indicators of cultures that did not discard objects, but leaned towards a culture of reuse, providing the visitors with a valuable lesson from the past.
By finding the (dis)harmony between past and present ideologies and experiences of the material, the landscape and the social and economic situations, the exhibition authors also turn to contemporary ideologies and the modified construction of human consciousness about the material, as well as the landscape. The exhibition highlights the practical nature of recycling recorded in archaeological artifacts, but does not neglect the numerous examples of the symbolic reuse, i.e. “recycling”, of objects and landscapes in the past.
The aim of the exhibition is to show that recycled materials and objects had a very active role in society, that they are not isolated cases of specific material reuse, and that the ideological background for reusing and recycling had a far more complex meaning for society. The exhibition also strives to show the longevity and the uninterrupted cycle of object reuse, as well as to encourage the visitors to think about the concept of recycling in relation to the modern way of life. The exhibition is accompanied by a scientific monograph dedicated to the topic of recycling and reuse in the past.
12/07/2021 - The round table and workshop called "Archaeological Laboratory - Pottery of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages" were organized by the Museum of the City of Kastela in cooperation with the Institute of Archeology. The gathering of fellow archaeologists will be carried out as part of the Interreg Value project (Italy-Croatia) and the project of the Croatian Science Foundation (UIP 2020-02-3637) "Technological features and pottery practices in prehistoric pottery traditions in Croatia." The goal is to start communication between colleagues who have experience in the processing of ceramic materials and are well acquainted with the characteristics of pottery of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages from the area of northern and central Dalmatia and its hinterland.