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Pottery is a complex archaeological material that is found ubiquitously in various spatial—temporal frameworks from all over the world; therefore, it is of great importance to archaeological research. The current paper aims to present and discuss the results obtained on a batch of Neolithic (ca. 6000–5000 BC) and Chalcolithic (ca. 5000–3900 BC) pottery sherds from Southern Romania through X-ray Computed Tomography, a non-destructive methodology that allows for the 3D reconstruction and precise measurement of inclusions and voids present within ceramic artefacts. Images from several potsherds were subsequently exported and analyzed by means of dedicated software (ImageJ 1.54p and GIMP) to extract quantitative information on the observed features. Grain size and morphometric analyses were performed on the particles, while the contour variability of the examined inclusions was characterized through the application of shape descriptors. Voids were analyzed in order to reveal specific orientation patterns through the examination of the aspect ratio of the holes and of the Rayleigh z test values. These analyses evidenced the general reliance of moderately and poorly sorted clays for ceramic production, accompanied by a gradual transition from organic to grog tempering, while conservative traditions remained prevalent in primary pottery-forming processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a qualitative and quantitative structural analysis of some pottery fragments belonging to the Boian culture, discovered in the archaeological site of Galatui - Movila Berzei, in a dwelling - sanctuary. Six representative pottery fragments were used. To visualize some microscopic details of the surfaces of these pottery fragments, digital optical microscopy was used. Also, for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the crystalline structure of the powder samples taken from the surfaces, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used. The obtained results show that the ceramic mass has a high content of quartz, accompanied by various oxide compounds from the clay used, low in calcium but rich in iron. The analyzed pottery fragments present different decorative patterns, from parallel and broken lines, to checkerboard-type patterns that denote a special leaning towards aesthetics of the communities from Galatui - Movila Berzei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological research from the sites attributed to the Gumelnița Culture carried out over time north of the Danube, especially in Muntenia, intensified as time went by, which led to a better understanding of the evolution of the communities of Gumelniţa in the Lower Danube Basin. The settlements of Gumelnița are arranged on the rivers and their tributaries that cross Muntenia, but also in the Danube Valley. The environment in which the communities of Gumelnița lived was favorable, benefiting from conditions for animal husbandry or practicing incipient farming. The space, which the communities of Gumelniţa occupied and from where the bone tools that we will present in our material were recovered, occupies a large part of Muntenia, geographically located in the Romanian Plain. Through this approach, we intend to present the main tools made of bones from domestic animals, discovered in the settlements of the communities of Gumelniţa, from a typological perspective, but also from the point of view of their functionality. Typologically, our research has led to the identification of three types of tools from bones of domestic animals, namely: tips, chisels and spatulas, which we will present below in this material, referring also to their functionality, where we had available information given by specialized analyses. The raw material was provided by two methods: the reuse of osteological residues from the processing activities of animal products, especially domestic, but also wild, or, the second process, the collection of the horn of Cervus elaphus. As for the supports, both volume and flat supports were used. The large number of types of supports clearly shows an opportunistic way of selection, with the community using the supports at hand, predominant of those of domestic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the use of experimental archaeology and imaging methods—X-ray computed tomography (CT) and radiography—that were employed to decipher the manufacturing techniques of Eneolithic clay artefacts. This study was triggered by the archaeological research conducted in some tell settlements in Southeastern Romania that belong to the Kodjadermen-Gumelniţa-Karanovo VI culture (c. 4500–3900 BC). The findings reported here represent the first accounts of a recently started research project, which has as its main goal the re-creation of Eneolithic clay artefacts and the identification of the chaîne opératoire used for manufacturing these objects. In particular, X-ray imaging techniques were used as complementary methods to help understand the structure of intact Eneolithic artefacts. In a subsequent step of this research, these techniques will be employed to check for similarities between the archaeological items and modern pottery replicas created in experimental archaeology workshops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract is presented for the article "Galaţi-Dunărea District: Report of Preventive Archaeological Research-2011," by Gabriel Jugănaru, Florin Topoleanu, Adrian-Ionuţ Adamescu, and Valentin Aurel Parnic.