The emergence of ‘Transeurasian’ language families in Northeast Asia as viewed from archaeological evidence

From a linguistic standpoint, Proto-Japonic and Proto-Koreanic are assumed to have split off the Transeurasian languages in southern Manchuria. The linguistic idea that Proto-Japonic came earlier than Proto-Koreanic in the chronological scheme means that the Proto-Japonic language first entered the Korean Peninsula, and from there spread to the Japanese archipelago at the beginning of the Yayoi period, around the 9th century BC, while the arrival of Proto-Koreanic in southern Korea is associated with the spread of the rolled rim vessel culture around the 5th century BC. The genealogical sequence of the Pianpu, Mumun and Yayoi cultures, which shared the same pottery production techniques, indicates the spread of Proto-Japonic. On the other hand, migrants moved from Liaodong to the Korean Peninsula and established the rolled rim vessel culture. This population movement was likely due to social and political reasons as the Yan state enlarged its territory eastward. The Proto-Koreanic of the rolled rim vessel culture later spread to the Korean Peninsula and gradually drove out Proto-Japonic, becoming the predecessor of the Koreanic. In this paper, I examine the spread of Proto-Japonic and Proto-Koreanic in Northeast Asia based on archaeological evidence, focusing especially on the genealogy of pottery styles and pottery production techniques.

A Case for Coexistence of Different Potting Practices – Baltic Ware in Latvia

Latvia in the 11th–13th century poses a curious case for the coexistence of two different practices of Baltic ware production. The Baltic ware pots from lower reaches of the River Daugava and from the Courland region look not just stylistically, but also technologically different. Our paper assessed the production traces by using macro-observations, Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and extensive ethnographic material of Slavic pottery production of the 1900s, as well as using modern replicas as visual aids to assist in the identification of the principal coil attachment methods. The results showed that potters from the lower reaches of Daugava used the wheel’s rotation extensively during the shaping process of Baltic ware. The production of the pots required the potter to possess a level of technical skill which implied a level of professionalisation. Baltic ware from Courland was less technically complicated and used comparatively more of the methods of handmade pottery production.

The Potter’s Wheel in the Chilean Central Valley: A Long-Term and Contextual Perspective on Technological Change

In this article the social and technological dynamics detected in the transition from hand-made pottery to wheel-thrown ware in a modern context is considered. The many different sources supplemented by fieldwork provide a long-term perspective and a depiction of its present consequences. It is specifically explained, how an indigenous, hand-made, domestic and female pottery-production system has turned into an essentially male, wheel-thrown and workshop activity. After a series of significant events, the Indian village of Pomaire gained a reputation as a potter’s village. The several changes underwent by its population as regards to pottery production makes it an interesting example to analyse the origin and development of a process of technological change which ended up with the displacement of women from pottery-making and the introduction of the means for mechanised production during the 1980s. Thus, the social and technical transformations which have taken place since colonial times (beginning of the 16th century), for the potters of Pomaire are explained, enlarged on their history in order to contribute to a general reflection.

Continuation or Evolution? Changes in Pottery Production and Vessel Types Used in Pomerelian (Gdańsk Pomerania) Towns in the Early-Modern Period

The article discusses changes in production and the of the pottery used in towns in Pomerelia in the early-modern period. These considerations are based on advanced research on late-medieval pottery-making of the region and the relatively poorer state of knowledge about the continuity of transformations at the beginning of the early-modern period. The vantage point for this study is a characterisation of the source base, including both the artefactual and written evidence. This enables the tracing of changes, and characteristic features of goods used, in the 16th century.

After 30 Years and During a Pandemic: Pottery Production and Distribution in Bagacay, Talibon in the Island of Bohol in the Philippines | Pagkalipas ng Tatlumpung Taon at sa Panahon ng Pandemya: Produksyon at Distribusyon ng Seramiko sa Bagacay, Talibon sa Isla ng Bohol sa Pilipinas

In 1986, SEAMEO SPAFA conducted training in Ethnoarchaeology in Bagacay, Talibon, from July 22 to September 22. From the training workshop and ethnographic fieldwork in the village, Mary Jane Calderon and Thelma Roales, who attended the course, wrote an article for the SPAFA Digest in 1987 to describe the village’s pottery-making tradition. After 30 years, I re-visited and conducted pottery studies in Bagagay, Talibon pre-pandemic in 2017 to 2018 and during the pandemic in 2021. Using ethnoarchaeology as a research strategy and participant observation and survey interview as methods, I will identify and describe the ceramic production, organization, and distribution changes in Bagacay, Talibon, Bohol for the last 30 years and during this pandemic. Noong 1986, and SEAMEO SPAFA ay nagsagawa ng pagsasanay sa Ethnoarkeolohiya sa Bagacay, Talibon noong Hunyo 22 hanggang Setyembre 22. Pagkatapos ng pagsasanay at ethnograpikong pagaaral sa komunidad, sina Mary Jane Calderon at Thelma Roales ay nagsulat ng artikulo para sa SPAFA Digest nuong 1987 para ilarawan ang tradisyon ng paggwa ng seramiko sa pamayanan. Pagkalipas ng 30 taon, ako ay bumisita at nagsaliksik ulit sa nasabing nayon bago ang pandemya nuong 2017 hanggang 2018 at sa kasagsagan ng pandemiko nito lamang 2021. Gamit ang ethnoarkeolohiya bilang stratehiyang sa pananaliksik at pakikiugaling pagmamasid at sarbey na panayam bilang metodo, aking kikilalanin at ilalarawan ang mga pagbabago sa produksyon, organisasyon, at distribusyon ng seramiko sa Bagacay, Talibon sa Bohol pagkalipas ng tatlumpung taon at ngayong panahon ng pandemya.

An Agent Based Model to Detect Variations in the Transmission of Potters from Baetica Province

The goal of this study is to analyse the transmission of technical skills among potters within the Roman Empire. Specifically, our case study has been focused on the production processes based on Baetica province (currently Andalusia) from 1st to 3rd century AD. Variability of material culture allows observing different production patterns that can explain how social learning evolves. Some differences can be detected in the making techniques processes through time and space that might explain different degrees of specialization. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to identify some evidence of social learning strategies in the archaeological record. In Archaeology, this process has been analysed by the study of the production of handmade pottery. In our case, we want to know if the modes of transmission could be similar with a more standardized production as Roman Age. We propose here an Agent-Based Model to compare different cultural processes of learning transmission. Archaeological evidence will be used to design the model. In this model, we implement a simple mechanism of pottery production with different social learning processes under different scenarios. In particular, the aim of this study is to quantify which one of those processes explain better the copying mechanisms among potters revealed in our dataset. We believe that the model presented here can provide a strong baseline for the exploration of transmission processes related to large-scale production.

«ONE CRAFTSMAN’S» VESSELS FROM THE CERAMIC ASSEMBLAGE OF THE BALANOVO CEMETERY

Статья посвящена дальнейшей разработке методических приемов выделения посуды, изготовленной условно «одним мастером». Используя методику выделения посуды «одного мастера» по формам-моделям, апробированную на посуде из Волосово-Даниловского могильника фатьяновской культуры, автор выявил по керамическому комплексу Балановского могильника эпохи бронзы 15 гончаров, делавших горшки, трех мастеров, изготовлявших амфоровидные сосуды, и одного, производившего миски. Предполагается, что в рамках одного поколения работали 4-5 мастеров. По изученным материалам реконструируется глубоко зашедший в результате устойчивых брачных контактов процесс смешения двух разных по происхождению родовых коллективов - балановского и атликасинского. Дуализм социальной структуры изучаемого общества проявлялся в том, что покойному приносили посуду родственники, различные по своей культурной принадлежности. Но оба коллектива продолжали частично сохранять культурную обособленность. Тот факт, что один и тот же мастер мог делать сосуды, соответствующие разным культурным традициям (и балановским, и атликасинским), а также число гончаров указывает на то, что в данном случае мы имеем дело с ремесленным на заказ гончарным производством. The paper deals with further development of methodological techniques of identifying «one craftsman’s» vessels. With the use of the methodology of identifying «one craftsman’s» vessels based on model forms which was piloted with the use of vessels from the Volosovo-Danilovo cemetery ascribed to the Fatyanovo culture, analyzing the Balanovo ceramic assemblage, the author singled out 15 potters who made pots, three craftsmen who produced amphora-like vessels and one potter who made bowls. The paper suggests that from 4 to 5 craftsmen worked in one generation. The examined materials help reconstruct the mixing process of two population groups of different origin, i.e. the Balanovo population and the Atlikasy population, which was quite deep due to sustainable marriage contacts. The dualism of the studied society’s social structure manifested itself in vessels brought for the deceased by relatives belonging to different cultures. However, both population groups continued to maintain their cultural specifics. The very fact that the same craftsman would make vessels according to different cultural traditions (both the Balanovo and the Atlikasy traditions) as well as the number of potters demonstrate that we deal with custom-tailored pottery production.

Manufacturing Complexes for the Non-Ferrous Metals Processing of the Golden Horde Cities: Search for Analogies

The article is devoted to the Golden Horde complexes associated with the processing of non-ferrous metals and the organization of handicraft production. Historiography has repeatedly voiced the significant role of the masters of the conquered territories in the formation of the metalworking production of the Golden Horde. In the article the characteristic features of the Golden Horde craft complexes are considered in comparison with similar complexes of Kievan Rus cities, as well as with some traditions of the organization of Central Asian craft. Data from workshops of Tsarevskoe, Uvekskoe, Bolgarskoe settlements, Staryy Orhey were brought in. The complexes are considered in terms of such parameters as location in the city planning system, type of structure, presence of smelting furnaces and hydraulic structures, set of production, range of products and coexistence with other industries. It is noted that in the cities of the Golden Horde there are various forms of organization of metalworking crafts, small workshops in craft districts and complex workshops functioning within household plots. The workshops location is not clearly defined; in general, they do not form specialized areas. The structures in which the workshops operate have no design features and may not contain heat engineering structures. Workshops for the processing of non-ferrous metals most often function in conjunction with bone carving and pottery production, less often in a composition with leather, glass making, and gemstone processing. This is significantly different from the situation in Kievan Rus cities, where the processing of non-ferrous metals is most often combined in various forms with the processing of ferrous metals. The handicraft complexes of the Golden Horde cities demonstrate a wide variety of forms, and most of them find their analogies in the materials of ancient Russian cities, therefore, it is difficult to single out specific features indicating possible genetic connections.

Archaeometric evidence for the earliest exploitation of lignite from the bronze age Eastern Mediterranean

This paper presents the earliest evidence for the exploitation of lignite (brown coal) in Europe and sheds new light on the use of combustion fuel sources in the 2nd millennium BCE Eastern Mediterranean. We applied Thermal Desorption/Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Polarizing Microscopy to the dental calculus of 67 individuals and we identified clear evidence for combustion markers embedded within this calculus. In contrast to the scant evidence for combustion markers within the calculus samples from Egypt, all other individuals show the inhalation of smoke from fires burning wood identified as Pinaceae, in addition to hardwood, such as oak and olive, and/or dung. Importantly, individuals from the Palatial Period at the Mycenaean citadel of Tiryns and the Cretan harbour site of Chania also show the inhalation of fire-smoke from lignite, consistent with the chemical signature of sources in the northwestern Peloponnese and Western Crete respectively. This first evidence for lignite exploitation was likely connected to and at the same time enabled Late Bronze Age Aegean metal and pottery production, significantly by both male and female individuals.