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Changing Clays: Raw Material Preferences in the ‘Neolithic’ Ceramic Assemblages of the Upper Vitim Basin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2017

Peter N. Hommel ,
Peter M. Day ,
Peter Jordan ,
Noémi S. Müller  and
Viktor M. Vetrov
Peter N. Hommel
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology 36 Beaumont St, Oxford, OX1 2PG. Email: peter.hommel@arch.ox.ac.uk
Peter M. Day
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET
Peter Jordan
Affiliation:
Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, A-weg 30, 9718 CW Groningen, Netherlands
Noémi S. Müller
Affiliation:
Fitch Laboratory, British School at Athens, Souidias 52, Athina 10676, Greece
Viktor M. Vetrov
Affiliation:
Formerly Irkutsk State Pedagogical University
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Abstract

This paper provides a contextual summary of a diachronic analysis of ceramic vessels and hunter-gatherer societies from the final Pleistocene to the later Holocene in a remote corner of the Vitim Basin in Eastern Siberia. An integrated programme of ceramic analysis, raw materials survey, and archaeological investigation is drawn into new models of group mobility and social behaviour. The results challenge widespread assumptions about the relationship between ceramics, sedentarisation, and social complexity. Evidence of these transformations, though potentially identifiable in the archaeological record, could not be associated with the adoption of pottery.

Résumé

Argiles changeantes: Matières premières de préférence dans les assemblages de céramique ‘néolithiques’ du haut bassin de Vitim, de Peter N. Hommel, Peter M. Day, Peter Jordan, Noémi S. Müller et Viktor M. Vetrov

Cet article fournit un résumé contextuel d’une analyse diachronique des vases en céramique et des sociétés de chasseurs-cueilleurs du pléistocène final à la deuxième partie de l’holocène dans un coin isolé du bassin de Vitim dans l’est de la Sibérie. Un programme intégré d’analyse de la céramique, d’étude des matières premières et des investigations archéologiques sont intégrées dans de nouveaux modèles de mobilité de groupes et de comportement social. Les résultats remettent en cause des hypothèses largement répandues sur la relation entre céramique, sédentarisation et complexité sociale. Les témoignages de ces transformations, bien que potentiellement identifiables dans les vestiges archéologiques, ne pouvaient être associés à l’adoption de la poterie.

Zusammenfassung

Wechselnder Ton: Präferenzen von Rohmaterialien in den “neolithischen” Keramikassemblagen des Oberen Vitim-Beckens, von Peter N. Hommel, Peter M. Day, Peter Jordan, Noémi S. Müller und Viktor M. Vetrov

Dieser Beitrag präsentiert eine kontextuelle Zusammenfassung einer diachronen Analyse von Keramikgefäßen und Jäger-Sammler-Gesellschaften vom finalen Pleistozän bis zum späteren Holozän in einem abgelegenen Bereich des Vitim-Beckens in Ostsibirien. Ein integriertes Programm aus Keramikanalysen, Rohmaterialsurvey und archäologischer Untersuchung fließen in neue Modelle von Gruppenmobilität und sozialem Verhalten ein. Die Ergebnisse stellen verbreitete Annahmen über die Beziehungen zwischen Keramik, Sesshaftwerdung und sozialer Komplexität in Frage. Hinweise für diese Transformationen können nicht mit der Annahme der Töpferei verknüpft werden, auch wenn diese in archäologischen Daten möglicherweise identifizierbar sind.

Resumen

Modificando arcillas: materias primas preferentes en los conjuntos cerámicos “neolíticos” de la cuenca alta del valle Vitim, por Peter N. Hommel, Peter M. Day, Peter Jordan, Noémi S. Müller y Viktor M. Vetrov

Este artículo aporta una revisión contextual del análisis diacrónico de los recipientes cerámicos y las sociedades de cazadores-recolectores desde el final del Pleistoceno y posterior Holoceno en una zona remota del valle Vitim, en el este de Siberia. El programa integral de análisis cerámico, la prospección de las materias primas y la investigación arqueológica suscita nuevos modelos de movilidad grupal y comportamiento social. Los resultados cuestionan las suposiciones generalizadas entre cerámica, sedentarización y complejidad social. La evidencia de estas transformaciones, aunque potencialmente identificable en el registro arqueológico, no se puede asociar con la adopción de la cerámica.

Keywords

early potteryEurasiamobilityinterpretive analysishunter-gatherers
Type
Articles
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 83 , December 2017 , pp. 137 - 153
Copyright
© The Prehistoric Society 2017 

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