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Pottery Firing Structures in the Early Mediterranean: Micromorphological Evidence and Archaeological Data from Middle Neolithic Kouphovouno (Southern Greece)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2017

Christèle Ballut ,
Josette Renard ,
William G. Cavanagh  and
Raphaël Orgeolet
Christèle Ballut
Affiliation:
CNRS, Universities of Paris I and X, France
Josette Renard
Affiliation:
University of Montpellier III, France
William G. Cavanagh
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham, UK
Raphaël Orgeolet
Affiliation:
Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Ministry of Culture & Communication, LAMPEA, Aix-en-Provence, France
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Abstract

Excavations at Kouphovouno (Laconia, Greece) have revealed burnt deposits associated with firing structures. The ‘millefeuille’ (vanilla slice) observed was composed of alternating layers of burnt red aggregates and white carbonate. Their description, micromorphological study, and contrast with a more standard structure of the Middle Neolithic allow us to interpret the layers as belonging to a structure for firing pottery: a covered clamp. This study has clarified its method of construction, operation, and use within a domestic context. After heating and cooking, the production of pottery and lime was one of the pyrotechnological activities most consumptive of energy among Neolithic communities, yet direct evidence for firing installations has been elusive. A new approach to the problem of locating pottery firing sites is presented here. The firing of pottery seems the most likely use for this type of structure, though the production of lime is also discussed.

Les fouilles du site de Kouphovouno (Laconie, Grèce) ont révélé des dépôts brûlés associés à des structures de combustion. Le ‘millefeuille’ observé était composé d’une alternance de couches rouges brûlées et blanches carbonatées. Sa description archéologique, son analyse micromorphologique et sa comparaison avec une structure plus classique du Néolithique Moyen nous conduisent à l’interpréter comme un dispositif de cuisson de la céramique en meule chapée. Son étude nous a permis de préciser ses modalités constructives, son fonctionnement et son utilisation en contexte domestique. Bien que la production de céramique et de chaux ait laissé peu de traces directes, cette activité pyrotechnologique est sans doute celle qui, après le chauffage et la cuisson alimentaire, a consommé le plus d’énergie chez les communautés néolithiques. Nous proposons ici une nouvelle approche pour identifier des structures de cuisson céramique. Mais si la cuisson céramique semble l’usage le plus probable pour le type de structure que nous décrivons, nous discutons également la production de chaux.

Ausgrabungen in Kouphovouno in Lakonien (Griechenland) haben verbrannte Schichten in Zusammenhang mit einer Brennstruktur entdeckt. Die Schichten, die wie in einem “Blätterteig” aufgeschichtet waren, waren alternierend rot gebrannte Aggregate und weiße Karbonate. Die Beschreibung ihrer Eigenschaften, mikromorphologische Untersuchung, sowie ein Vergleich mit einer üblicheren Struktur des Mittelneolithikums ermöglicht es, diese Schichten als Teil einer Brennstruktur zu deuten. Es handelt sich um einen Meiler. Unsere Analyse hat seine Bauweise, seinen Betrieb und seinen Gebrauch im Rahmen einer Siedlung verdeutlicht. Neben Heizen und Kochen ist die Herstellung von Keramik und Kalk die pyrotechnische Tätigkeit, die bei den neolithischen Gemeinschaften am meisten Energie verbrauchte. Jedoch gibt es sehr wenige direkte Beweise, dass es solche Einrichtungen gab. Die Frage der Identifizierung von solchen Brennstätten wird hier neu angesprochen. Das Brennen von Keramik ist die wahrscheinlichste Deutung für diesen Typ von Struktur, obschon die Herstellung von Kalk auch in Betracht gezogen wurde. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Keywords

NeolithicGreececovered clampearth constructionmicromorphologyNéolithiqueGrècefour temporaire couvertconstruction en terremicromorphologieNeolithikumGriechenlandgedeckter MeilerErdbauMikromorphologie
Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , February 2017 , pp. 98 - 119
Copyright
Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 2016 

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