engleski

Research on Bronze Age pottery traditions – Conceptual approach

The tradition of studying archaeological ceramics in Croatia is deeply rooted in the culture- historical approach, especially when it comes to prehistoric pottery, which represents most of the archaeological record on prehistoric societies. However, turning the approach, by studying pottery throughout its lifecycle from raw material selection, different stages of production, to distribution and use, can provide valuable research contributions in a topic still not fully explored. Over the next five years, extended research on Bronze Age (2400-800 BC) pottery traditions on the territory of Croatia will be conducted. The paper will present the project concept and methodology approach. A prerequisite for the selection of archaeological material is a well-established stratigraphic and chronological context and in the initial phase, the ceramics will be classified with the focus on typology and style aiming at cultural and temporal determination. In addition, through a macroscopic examination of the pottery, an analysis of manufacturing techniques and vessel function will be carried out. A large part of the research protocol will be focused on the analysis of archaeological ceramics and pottery raw materials using various analytical techniques (ceramic petrography, XRD, FTIR and geochemistry). All the information gathered will form a large set of data, that represent the basis on which the properties of production, distribution, and use through specific research questions, will be evaluated, and analysed. Therefore, the correlation of different interdisciplinary data sets, quantification methods, and digitalization of such data, currently presents the biggest challenge. 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.

ceramics, Bronze Age, raw materials, archaeometry, methodology, project

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