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Bronze Age Accessory Cups from Lincolnshire: Early Bronze Age Pot?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Carol Allen  and
David Hopkins
Carol Allen
Affiliation:
Oxford Archaeological Unit, Janus House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ES
David Hopkins
Affiliation:
Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire, The Old School, Cameron Street, Heckington, Sleaford NG34 9RW
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Abstract

Sixteen accessory or pygmy cups of the Early Bronze Age front Lincolnshire are illustrated and discussed for the first time: many were previously unpublished. The possible origins of the cups are considered and it is suggested that they had organic counterparts in domestic use more suitable for the lifestyle of the early 2nd millennium BC. The use of grog tempered fabrics is considered, leading to the concept of ritual use of the cups in traditional rites connecting society with its past. In the Early Bronze Age it seems very likely that the use of pottery was restricted to special occasions, and the cups in particular were used for drinking and smoking sessions, recognisable as part of both modern and past social gatherings and ceremonies.

Résumé

Pour la première fois on présente et débat de seize coupes accessoires ou pygmées de l'âge du bronze primitif dans le Lincolnshire: beaucoup étaient jusqu'à présent inédites. On examine les origines probables de ces coupes et on émet l'idée qu'elles avaient des contreparties organiques pour l'usage domestique plus appropriées au style de vie du début du deuxième millénaire avant J.-C.. On examine l'utilisation de matériaux gâchés avec des débris, ce qui nous a conduit au concept d'usage rituel des coupes dans des rites traditionnels établissant un lien entre la société et son passé. Au début de l'âge du bronze il semble très probable que l'usage de la poterie était réservé à des occasions spéciales, et les coupes en particulier étaient utilisées au cours de sessions pendant lesquelles on buvait et fumait, activités reconnues comme faisant partie des rassemblements sociaux et des cérémonies à la fois passés et présents.

Zusammenfassung

Sechzehn Zubehör – oder „Pygmäenbecher‟ der Frühen Bronzezeit aus Lincolnshire werden erstmals abgebildet und diskutiert: viele waren bisher unveröffentlicht. Die möglichen Ursprünge der Becher werden berücksichtigt, und es wird vorgeschlagen, daß sie organische Pendants im Hausgebrauch hatten, die für den Lebensstil des frühen 2. Jahrtausends BC besser geeignet waren. Die Nutzung einer Struktur aus Schamottmagerung wird erwogen, und führt zum Konzept der rituellen Nutzung der Becher in traditionellen Riten, die die Gesellschaft mit ihrer Vergangenheit verbinden. In der Frühen Bronzezeit scheint es sehr wahrscheinlich, daß die Benutzung von Keramikgefäßen auf spezielle Gelegenheiten beschränkt war, wobei besonders die Becher für Trink – und Rauchsitzungen benutzt wurden, die sowohl Bestandteil moderner als auch vergangener sozialen Treffen und Zeremonien waren.

Resúmen

Este artículo ilustra y discute por vez primera dieciseis tazas accesorias o “pigmeas” de la Edad del Bronce procedentes de Lincolnshire: muchas de ellas no han sido previamente publicadas. Se consideran los posibles orígenes de las tazas y se sugiere que tuvieron paralelos orgánicos en el uso deméstico más de acuerdo con el estilo de vida de comienzos del segundo milenio a.C. Se reflexiona sobre el uso de materiales templados con grog, que conduce al concepto del uso ritual de las tazas en ritos tradicionales que conectan a la sociedad con su pasado. Parece posible que el uso de cerámica durante la primera Edad del Bronce estuviera restringido a ocasiones especiales, y que las tazas en particular se usasen en sesiones donde se bebía y fumaba, cosa aceptada como parte de reuniones sociales y ceremonias tanto en el pasado como hoy en dia.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 66 , 2000 , pp. 297 - 317
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 2000

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