The production, circulation and consumption of ceramic vessels at Early Neolithic Knossos, Crete
Neolithic ceramics in the Aegean have had a history of interpretation, which has seen them employed to address a series of questions, including chronology, cultural origins, technology, production, circulation and consumption. This study critically reexamines this history of interpretation and explores how it has contributed to current understanding of the production, circulation and consumption of ceramic vessels during the earlier Neolithic (c.6500-4500BC). More specifically it is argued that recent advances in the methods used to characterise variation in Neolithic ceramic assemblages have generally not been matched by increased sophistication in the ways such variation is interpreted. In this study macroscopic and microscopic (petrography, scanning electron microscopy) analyses of Early Neolithic ceramics from Knossos have been combined in order to explore the potential limits of ceramic variation. In the methodology used, the production process is viewed as a series of necessary stages, at each of which the potter exercises choices. From clay choice and processing to vessel forming, finishing and firing, these choices may be revealed through the macroscopic examination of fabric, form and forming and
Tomkins, Peter
The production, circulation and consumption of ceramic vessels at Early Neolithic Knossos, Crete. Neolithic ceramics in the Aegean have had a history of interpretation, which has seen them employed to address a series of questions, including chronology, cultural origins, technology, production, circulation and consumption. This study critically reexamines this history of interpretation and explores how it has contributed to current understanding of the production, circulation and consumption of ceramic vessels during the earlier Neolithic (c.6500-4500BC). More specifically it is argued that recent advances in the methods used to characterise variation in Neolithic ceramic assemblages have generally not been matched by increased sophistication in the ways such variation is interpreted. In this study macroscopic and microscopic (petrography, scanning electron microscopy) analyses of Early Neolithic ceramics from Knossos have been combined in order to explore the potential limits of ceramic variation. In the methodology used, the production process is viewed as a series of necessary stages, at each of which the potter exercises choices. From clay choice and processing to vessel forming, finishing and firing, these choices may be revealed through the macroscopic examination of fabric, form and forming and
production_circulation consumption ceramic_vessel early neolithic knossos crete neolithic_ceramic aegean history interpretation see employed address series_question include chronology cultural origin technology production_circulation consumption study critically reexamine history interpretation explores contribute_current production_circulation consumption ceramic_vessel earlier_neolithic specifically_argue recent_advance method_use characterise variation neolithic_ceramic assemblage generally match increase sophistication way variation interpret study macroscopic_microscopic petrography scan_electron_microscopy analyse early_neolithic ceramic knossos combine order_explore potential limit ceramic variation use production_process view series necessary stage potter exercise choice clay choice process vessel forming finish firing choice may reveal macroscopic examination fabric form forming