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Pottery is a quintessential indicator of human cultural dynamics. Cultural alignment of behavioral repertoires and artifacts has been considered to rest upon two distinct dynamics: selective transmission of information and culture-specific biased transformation. In a cross-cultural field experiment, we tested whether community-specific morphological features of ceramic vessels would arise when the same unfamiliar shapes were reproduced by professional potters from three different communities who threw vessels using wheels. We analyzed the details of the underlying morphogenesis development of vessels in wheel throwing. When expert potters from three different communities of practice were instructed to faithfully reproduce common unfamiliar model shapes that were not parts of the daily repertoires, the morphometric variation in the final shape was not random; rather, different potters produced vessels with more morphometric variation among than within communities, indicating the presence of community-specific deviations of morphological features of vessels. Furthermore, this was found both in the final shape and in the underlying process of morphogenesis; there was more variation in the morphogenetic path among than within communities. These results suggest that the morphological features of ceramic vessels produced by potters reliably and nonrandomly diverge among different communities. The present study provides empirical evidence that collective alignment of morphological features of ceramic vessels can arise from the community-specific habits of fashioning clay.

The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the recent osteological analysis of the human remains discovered to the north of the funerary temple of King Djedkare at south Saqqara. The excavation began in spring 2018 as a part of Djedkare Project of the exploration and documentation of the pyramid complex of king Djedkare, directed by Mohamed Megahed. This paper will investigate some of the burials discovered in the so-called T.g area which is situated between the funerary temple of the king and the south side of the pyramid of the queen. The burials date back from the late Second Intermediate Period probably to the 1st millennium BCE based on the preliminary analysis of the pottery. The burials were discovered in three levels, the earlier burials in the bottom levels of the debris were in extended north-south or east-west position. Also, the upper-level burials were in extended east-west positions. The Middle level contains burials in ceramic coffins Besides the variety of burial customs and the correlation between age, sex, and grave good, The good preservation of bones surface allowed to record the pathological diseases. Many evidences recorded for activity-related skeletal changes, including degenerative disease in the spines and other joints in the older adult groups. Moreover, trauma (including fractures) was noted in any individuals, affecting the shoulders, femurs, hands and pelvis. It is likely that childhood stress observed in several individuals in the form of iron deficiency anaemia and dental developmental disorders. In some cases, evidence for spondylolysis, which might have been unilateral or bilateral, was observed. More unusual pathological conditions observed included infectious defects in the skull of a young adult female and a possible case of blunt force trauma. Several dental diseases were observed in Djedkare secondary cemetery individuals, including tooth attrition, abscesses, ante-mortem tooth loss and calculus, which related to age changes. This preliminary overview study will contribute to add new non-elite cemetery results and aim to make it accessible for researchers additionally, investigate the biological profile as sex, age, stature. Moreover, sheds light on the distribution of pathologies inside the assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The focus of this paper is the Middle and Late Roman (third–seventh centuries AD) cooking pottery recovered during the excavations at the Agora in Nea Paphos. Macroscopic investigation suggested that a part of this assemblage was imported from north‐western Cyprus. To verify this assumption, selected samples were analysed with thin section petrography and wavelength dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry. The results of an integrated macroscopic and laboratory analysis indicated the presence of two typologically distinguishable groups characterized by the same fabric. Comparative studies suggest that they were likely produced in the area of Dhiorios located in north‐western Cyprus. It was also noted that the cooking pottery vessels characterized by the same fabric were being imported to Nea Paphos already in the first century AD. The continuity of the production and exportation of the Dhiorios pottery suggests the economic importance of north‐western Cyprus throughout the entire Roman period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavations at the site of QA 21 near the village of ʿAyn Banī Saʿdah in the Qumayrā microregion yielded new information on Iron Age (IA) II settlement in the Hajjar mountains. Located halfway between the modern towns of Yanqul and Buraymī, in an area with little‐known Iron Age occupation, QA 21 is a c. 2 ha open site scattered with the remains of numerous buildings. The pottery found on the surface is largely of IA II date even though some of the structures can date from a later, possibly Late Islamic period. Excavations of a large IA II house provided a rich and well‐stratified collection of pottery, some stone tools and marine shells. Analysis of the finds' distribution and the building's construction details revealed functional differences between certain areas of the house. The entire structure can be interpreted as a large village household with domestic, storage and food‐processing areas. The provenance of the ceramic assemblage associated with this household is both regional and local, as indicated by geochemical analysis of the pottery, suggesting that the settlement participated in regional exchange networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle and Late Bronze Ages can be characterized by an increase in connectivity, and the Balearic Islands are no exception. In order to more deeply explore this phenomenon, we analyze pottery forming processes by studying manufacturing traces, which allow us to observe technological practices and the transfer of technical know-how. Our case study is centered around a technological analysis of the most common type of pottery: a cask shaped vessel. An analysis of the evidence related to the production process allows us to define nine distinct forming processes used at differing intensities across the entirety of the Balearic archipelago. Thus, we are able to identify the technological practices employed and provide a deeper understanding of the contact dynamics related to the transmission of technological knowledge between communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the first millennium BC, West Africa was in the midst of social, political, technological, and environmental change. The Diallowali site system, located along the western edge of the Middle Senegal Valley (MSV), is one of the few sites from this period to be intensively investigated and has produced a wealth of data regarding these processes. By considering a variety of artifacts, including stone tools, copper, iron, and worked bone, as well as approximately 5,000 kg of pottery, this paper establishes a detailed cultural chronology for Diallowali – the first of its kind in the Western MSV. Furthermore, these data indicate that the West African world of the first millennium BC was one of expansive interaction, including the trade and exchange of goods and ideas across an area including Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study of a 2nd century AD assemblage of handmade/slow wheel-made cooking wares, found at the Roman settlement of Tamuda (Tetouan, Morocco) is presented. Such ceramics are rare in Early-Middle Roman Imperial contexts of the western Mediterranean. A combined typological and archaeometric approach – including petrographic, mineralogical, and chemical analyses – was carried out to study this assemblage, aiming to examine the hypothesis of a local or regional provenance and to shed light on its production technology. The results indicate the existence of a diversity of products, including a fabric that was likely locally manufactured, as well as other imported fabrics that point to micro-regional distribution or trade of some of these wares. This research is a significant contribution towards a better understanding of the handmade/slow wheel-made pottery that was produced and consumed in the northern Moroccan Rif in the Roman period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosaic ceramics are not limited to use solely as building materials, they also possess artistic value. Artists can create images by arranging and combining mosaic ceramics, resulting in a perfect fusion of large-scale public art for external walls and ceramic materials. However, the current approach for artists to create mosaic ceramic exterior wall art images involves manual laying and assembling of individual mosaic ceramics. This manual process suffers from issues such as low efficiency, eye fatigue, selection errors, and the risk of high-altitude operations. These challenges significantly impact the quality and efficiency of creating mosaic ceramic exterior wall art image images. To address these problems, this paper proposes an automatic mosaic ceramic art image stitching method based on subpixel edge fitting positioning and collaborative operation of multiple robotic arms. Additionally, a new U + I type conveying method is designed for efficient and space-saving transportation of mosaic ceramics. Experimental results demonstrate a high success rate of recognition, absorption, and placement of multi-color mosaic ceramics using this method reaching 95.45%, with a positioning error within 0.5 mm. The method can also adapt to varying levels of light intensity or noise interference. This approach effectively enhances the quality and efficiency of creating mosaic ceramic exterior wall art images and promotes the development of mosaic ceramic exterior wall public art creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the extent of market participation among Chăm pottery producers in Vietnam and the factors that influence this extent. The research utilized the total market participation index to assess the level of market participation and Tobit regression to examine the factors influencing market participation. Primary data were collected from a sample of 150 pottery households. The study demonstrates that pottery households are involved in the market to varying degrees. Factors such as family size, hired labourers, production space, self-owned transportation, average distance to customers, amount of advertising, and credit accessibility positively affect their participation in the market. Shipping damage, government assistance, non-pottery income, and education level of household head have a negative effect. The findings indicate that government assistance should consider the requirements of pottery households to develop efficient support measures. The research serves as a useful reference for policymakers and managers in devising strategies to promote both the growth of traditional craft production and the sustained well-being of ethnic groups. This, in turn, would contribute to the overall economic advancement of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper coordinates archaeological information on the changing urban landscape of Egypt's first Islamic-era capital, Fustat, with topographical, social, and economic insights from the Geniza archive and other sources. A focus on the organization of the city's pottery industry provides new insights into the multiple "abandonments" and reoccupations familiar from historical sources, showing how diverse residential areas were turned to industrial use (and back) via adaptable transitional processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic motifs, forms, and paste attributes of domestic pottery offer insights into regional historical dynamics, especially if the chronostratigraphic contexts of the ceramics can be established through excavations, radiocarbon dates, and historical traditions. This study examines recently excavated ceramic assemblages from the southern Jos Plateau, the first archaeological study of ceramic assemblages from this region. This paper focuses on the ninth/tenth, through twelfth/thirteenth, and nineteenth/twentieth centuries ceramic rim forms, decorative motifs, and clay properties from Fier, Lankan, and Daffo communities. The study sheds light on the similarities and differences in styles and functions regionally and across time. It also explores the roles that the production, distribution, and consumption of domestic pottery played in the process of regional networks and intergroup relations over a thousand and five hundred years in the southern Jos Plateau. Finally, this study provides a valuable framework for future archaeological research in the region by setting a foundation for standardized ceramic classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the social landscape of the First Nile Cataract region in the 4th mill. BCE through the application of petrographic and technological approaches to pottery analysis. The study focuses on the ceramic assemblages from the settlement WK15 and the necropolis WK14 at Nag el-Qarmila and identifies for the first time three technical traditions along with their synchronic and diachronic interaction. It provides new data on the more ancient phases of the so-called Naqadan productions and their relationship with the Shale Ware and the Nubian Black-Mouthed Ware. The results allow us to better frame the mixed assemblage that characterizes a site far from the elite centers and where relations between mobile and sedentary groups were, therefore, more fluid. The data obtained also constitute a comparative nucleus for the growth of technological and petrographic studies at other sites and periods, and the numerous insights that emerged will be useful for directing future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct 14C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates obtained on a selection of pottery sherds recovered from surface sites in the Western Sahara have confirmed that the first potteries of this region appeared at the middle of the seventh millennium cal. BP. From the geographical point of view, these early results are detected all along the latitudinal gradient and from the Atlantic to the inland regions, which indicates that adoption of the new ware was fast and uniform in the entire territory. The decorative motifs are dominated by herringbones and series of short segments, always impressed with combs. These graphisms do not correspond with the abundant and widely distributed rock art motifs of the same region. However, they do appear incised on the surfaces of the pierced ostrich eggs used as containers since the Epipaleolithic. This may indicate a certain degree of symbolic continuity between the Epipaleolithic and the Neolithic in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on an attempt to analyse decorative techniques on archaeological pottery from the Middle Niger region of West Africa as knowledge exchange networks. The twelfth-century AD state of this network is modelled and analysed and then compared to its ninth-century counterpart. The analysis shows how knowledge about pottery decoration was propagated within networks of different sizes and intensities, from local, well-connected networks to more loosely tied long-distance connections. The article shows how the perspective of network analysis differs from, and can fruitfully complement, previous treatments of ceramic décor distribution in the region. It adds a novel perspective to what the distribution of archaeological ceramics in this region reflects and contributes to the generation of hypotheses that can be further tested by fieldwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harpoons are part of the composite technologies, widely dispersed throughout the world. In South America, a unique type of throwing harpoon reveals a limited distribution, primarily discovered in hunter‐gatherer archaeological sites within the lower La Plata basin. Specifically, they are found in two archaeological units named Incised Pottery and Plain Pottery which are defined by different material properties but share several common aspects as well. Regarding bone tools, the primary distinction lies in the decoration of the items, contrasting with the ornamentation of the pottery. While the processes underlying regional variability in the archaeological assemblages is not yet fully understood, various types of artifacts show differences in morphology and stylistic features that can be linked to archaeological units. For this purpose, we examined 13 archaeological samples of harpoon heads considering morphological, physical, and metrical variation, as well as the operational sequence. As result, we observed variations in both morphology and decoration, while the metrical structure, the selection of raw material and the operational sequence remain unaltered. This phenomenon could be attributed to a recent process of social differentiation affecting external features, whereas the internal characteristics are connected to technique behaviors resistant to recent changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kingdom of Navarre was a Christian kingdom located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Its location on the west of the isthmus between the Iberian Peninsula and the European continent allowed an exchange of cultural currents. The main pottery production centres were in Estella, Lumbier, Pamplona, Tafalla, and Tudela. Ceramic pastes from various mediaeval sites were analysed for both elemental and mineralogical composition determination. The results were evaluated using Principal Component Analysis and allowed us to identify each production centre. Each manufacturing centre showed a different and characteristic composition of raw materials. Ceramics from Tudela were Ca-, Mg-, Na-, and Sr-rich. Ceramics from Estella were richer in Al, K, and Ti. Ca, Sc, and Sr contents were higher in Tafalla ceramics. Lumbier ceramics stood out for being enriched in Si, Mn, Fe, and Zr. Pamplona ceramics showed intermediate values. The analysis of samples from other Navarrese locations allowed us to begin to define what the commercial ceramic network in the Kingdom of Navarre was like during the Middle Ages. Therefore, two aims were defined for this paper: to characterise the ceramic pastes for each of the producing centres and to know where the ceramics were exported to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly a century ago, pioneering investigations in northern Sonora led to the first discussion of Trincheras tradition ceramics. Since then, only cursory attempts have been made to understand the temporal and spatial variability of Trincheras bichrome pottery. A recent detailed attribute analysis of pottery from sites across Sonora and southern Arizona has resulted in the region's first ceramic seriation and a revised decorated ceramic typology. In this paper, I synthesize the results of this study, highlight key technological differences which occurred over nearly a millennium, and argue that the Trincheras tradition was one of the earliest producers of bichrome ceramics in the Southwest/Northwest. A revision of Trincheras ceramic typologies has been much needed and is invaluable for archaeologists working in both Sonora and Arizona. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick Island Incised (TII) is a relatively rare variety of Late Archaic fiber-tempered pottery found across sections of central and northern peninsular Florida. The striking stylistic divergences of TII from other Orange pottery types have led multiple researchers to invoke foreign influences or migrations to account for its appearance. This paper presents newly collected data on TII vessels from the Silver Glen complex (8LA1/8MR123) and related sites along the St. Johns River and northern Gulf Coast. These data, which represent the most detailed information yet collected on the technology, style, composition, and spatiotemporal distribution of TII pottery, are used to address numerous published speculations regarding the type's timing, origin, and cultural meaning. This research supports the idea that TII's aberrant style, which features symbolically powerful sinistral or left-opening spirals, can be explained as an example of skeuomorphism linked to preexisting lightning whelk shell cups. It further indicates that TII appeared during a particularly volatile time during the Late Archaic period and that its use and deposition in ritualized contexts may have been part of a deliberate effort to intervene in ongoing historical processes and mediate their impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study broadens our knowledge of the relationship between the clayey georesources available in northern Apulia and the artisanal production of ceramics. The focus is placed on a collection of 6th and 7th century A.D. pottery found in the domus excavated within the archaeological complex of Canosa San Pietro (ancient Canusium) in Italy. The integration of the results obtained from this study with those already available made it possible to outline conscious technological choices in terms of raw materials' exploitation, based on which the alluvial deposits were selected for the production of coarse cooking ware and the marine Subapennine clays for the production of fine common ware. This selective choice undoubtedly had a practical implication since it supplied raw materials that required little processing, being already suitable for the type of ceramic to be produced. Moreover, the compositional comparison of investigated pottery with products distributed along the Carapelle valley, rather than those from Canusium previously studied, provides new perspectives for reconstructing the microcirculation of ceramics in northern Apulia. Lastly, the imports of Classe‐type pottery, probably from the northern Adriatic area, are worth mentioning since they represent the most consistent distribution of this type of ceramic in southern Italy and may reflect the assiduous pilgrimage of the monastery after the death of Bishop Savinus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palù di Livenza is a Neolithic pile-dwelling site located in north-east Italy, inscribed since 2011 on the World Heritage List of UNESCO in the transnational serial property “Prehistoric pile-dwellings around the Alps”. Its study is crucial for investigating the transition from the Recent to Late Neolithic periods in the region. Eighteen vessels from 5 structural phases, dated approximately between 4300/4200 and 3600 BC, have been analysed using X-ray computed microtomography, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma optical emission and mass spectrometry, as well as portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), in order to investigate the pottery forming techniques, the technology and the provenance of the vessels based on their minero-petrographic and chemical characteristics. The results of pXRF analyses have been further evaluated through principal component analysis (PCA). The results obtained indicate that most of the vessels, including the four-spouted vessels typical of the Square Mouthed Pottery culture, were locally produced using the coiling technique. The vessels were tempered with carbonate material that has dissolved due to taphonomic factors and/or large fragments of other rocks originating form geological formations outcropping nearby the archaeological site. The identified fabric groups, in use throughout the entire duration of the settlement, seem to suggest that no significant technological changes occurred at the transition between Recent and Late Neolithic. Interestingly, the PCA analysis of reliable chemical elements revealed that, despite the overall similarity of the assemblage, certain samples with distinct chronology and typology demonstrate remarkably homogeneous chemical characteristics. This suggests slight variations in the raw materials and/or recipes used over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new perspective on the constitutive role of material culture for memory using the Knossian Kamares pottery style as a case study. It challenges prevalent approaches in mainstream memory studies, which confine memory to individuals' brains or minds, suggesting a deeper relationship between material culture and memory. Presenting a novel methodology rooted in cognitive archaeology to study the long-term making of Knossian Kamares decorations, I suggest that the Knossian Kamares pottery style is a transgenerational memory that enabled generations of artisans to remember, learn, and update technological skills and knowledge. I also claim that, in assuming this distributed, enactive, and non-representational stance on style as memory, it becomes evident that remembering is something we do: an active engagement that emerges with and through material culture in specific sociomaterial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizing archaeological artefacts under a conceptual system is part and parcel of archaeological research. As an abundant material category, pottery artefacts classified in an effective typological model provide a rich source of information for the discipline. However, building a typological model from scratch, as well as maintaining it, often represents a challenge. To support archaeological research, automated methods are increasingly utilized in sustaining classification models. Yet, there is potential for advancement in creating, rethinking, and updating typological arrangements by means of digital, label-driven, or data-driven algorithmic approaches. In this paper, we take a step towards fulfilling this potential while highlighting the fuzziness involved in typological arrangements. We present a complete research pipeline of pottery form quantification, fuzzy-type description, and fuzzy-type definition which is in principle applicable to any typological model. The methodological pipeline is implemented, first, in rim segments to algorithmically construct polythetic rim descriptors; second, in complete profiles to algorithmically connect the global form with the attributed functional class; and third, in types to investigate within-class form variation and its chronological relevance. This paper provides tools to formalize the ambivalence of typological classification using fuzzy logic and revisit the theoretical model to investigate the vagueness of belonging to a class based on morphological aspects of pottery profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study undertakes a comparative analysis of sampled Greek geometric pottery and Eastern Zhou bronze vessels, highlighting aesthetic parallels despite the civilizations' geographical and cultural separation. Through a comparative material and aesthetic analysis grounded in an investigation of their isolated cultural and socio-economic contexts, the paper reveals how each tradition reflects the unique developments of the disparate societies which produced these items. Despite a lack of direct interaction and the historical challenge of Eurocentrism in scholarship, this analysis bridges a gap in comparative studies, highlighting the intricate ways in which shifts in power, social hierarchy, and economic strategies are mirrored in ancient artistry. The investigation, enriched by a review of archaeological and art historical scholarship, sheds light on the profound, yet distinct, impacts of each civilization's milieu on their artistic expressions. This comparative approach not only bridges historiographical divides but also invites a re-evaluation of ancient artistic narratives, suggesting new approaches and methodologies to the study of ancient aesthetics and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well known for vibrant ideological energy, Nsukka School is home to several renowned artists whose impacts are felt globally. Among them are artists of various specialties including painting, sculpture, graphics, and ceramics. This paper presents a review of the ceramic works of key ceramicists from Nsukka School--Echeta, Ozioma Onuzulike, and Ngozi Omeje. While these ceramicists have, in recent times, continued to soar on the international art scene, the background of their practices, particularly as artists from the Nsukka art school, needs to be reviewed. With a specific focus on the artists' ceramic installations, the works of these artists between 2000 and 2010 are, therefore, presented and analyzed. While the study is anchored in the background of Nsukka School and the persistent ideologies for which the school is known, the uniqueness of the artists' works is also foregrounded. The study relied on extant literature, in-depth interviews with each of the artists, and a personal observation of their works. The data analysis involved the narrative and comparative methods. By presenting a background to the current practices of the Nsukka ceramicists, this study provides a backdrop upon which their work and those of many more artists could be studied and understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Girsu, the modern site of Tello (southern Iraq), represents one of the earliest known urban centres of the ancient world, along with Uruk, Eridu, and Ur. During the 3rd millennium BCE (3000–2000 BCE), Girsu was revered as the sanctuary of the Sumerian heroic deity Ningirsu, who fought with supernatural beasts and made possible the introduction of irrigation and agriculture in Sumer. While much is known about the gods, their roles, and rituals inside the temples, there is little textual or archaeological evidence concerning the rituals that took place in the large open-air plazas adjacent to the temples. These areas within the sacred precinct were where the general population would gather to participate in festivals and ceremonies to honour the gods. To better understand the ancient cultic realm in southern Mesopotamia, an in-depth investigation of a favissa (ritual pit) discovered within the sacred precinct at Girsu was undertaken. The excavations recovered a large quantity of ceramics and animal remains that had been used for ritual purposes. Through the study of archaeological remains of cultic spaces at Girsu, information on ritual behaviour such as sacrificial animal slaughtering and consumption for the purpose of feasting, the types of libations provided to quench the thirst of the gods, and the distance travelled to take part in the annual festivals to pay homage to the patron god of their sacred city were explored. Analysis of the associated ceramics, cuneiform texts, and zooarchaeological remains (including stable isotope data), allowed a multi-faceted and integrative approach to better understand ceremonial behaviour and ritual feasting in this sacred city. New insights into communal and performative participation in ceremonies, especially by non-elite individuals, are generated. These data increase our knowledge not only of how Girsu's citizens organised their sacred spaces and religious festivals, but also of how they behaved in order to satisfy the ever-demanding needs of their gods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pottery wheel machine is an essential piece of equipment in ceramics manufacturing. This paper presents the design of an intelligent pottery wheel machine aimed at addressing the issues of low clay material utilization and the challenges of pottery throwing operations. Traditional techniques require exceptional craftsmanship and proficient mechanical operation, and existing pottery wheel machines still demand attention to equipment usage and clay material knowledge. The intelligent pottery wheel machine integrates central positioning, automatic clay feeding, and clay storage. The pull mechanism stores and precisely feeds clay, regulating usage and minimizing excess. The automated settings of the clay storage and power push system replace the need for manual assessment of clay density and quality, ensuring balanced and high-quality clay extrusion. The continuous feeding setting allows for automatic addition of clay, saving replenishment time and reducing the labor intensity of adding clay. The lifting mechanism ensures that the clay body remains centered, avoiding repeated manual adjustments and allowing users to focus on creating pottery rather than spending excessive time mastering the centering technique. The machine's lightweight, modular design reduces clay waste, making the process more sustainable. By saving clay materials and improving throwing efficiency, it enhances the success rate of throwing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of the preventive archaeology component of the Nachtigal amont hydroelectric dam project was carried out in two phases, from 2019 to 2023, under two contracts managed by IRD and carried out by a Franco-Cameroonian team. Over 75,148 pottery shards were collected from just over 200 sites. Some forty mass spectrometer radiocarbon dates were performed. Our preliminary typochronological description is based on the examination of some 20,000 fragments from 58 archaeological sites. The sequence appears to be made up of seven different groups, recognized above all by morphological-decorative criteria: Group I (9th-7th centuries BC), Group IIa (8th-5th centuries BC), Group IIb (6th-2nd centuries BC), Group III (AD 2nd-5th centuries), Group IV (AD 12th-14th centuries), Group V (AD 15th-17th centuries) and Group VI (AD 17th century-contemporary).

В статье подробно рассматриваются ремесленные гончарные поселения, функционировавшие на территории Южного Приаралья в раннем железном веке и эпоху античности. Эти памятники, напрямую связанные с массовым производством глиняной посуды, различны по своему месторасположению в пределах оазисов. В связи с этим определяется их место в экономической системе области. Продукция многопрофильного ремесленного Нурумского поселения, которая явно превышала потребности его жителей, была рассчитана на скотоводческое население западных окраин Хорезма. Ремесленные поселения Хумбуз-тепе и Бабиш мола 7 снабжали своей продукцией земледельческие поселения, расположенные в пределах ирригационного района. Есть определённые основания считать, что эти крупные ремесленные центры возникали не без участия центральных властей.

В статье представлены результаты эксперимента по реконструкции гончарного производства чирикрабадской культуры, который был проведён в полевых сезонах 2022—2023 гг. на площадке, прилегающей к уникальной гончарной мастерской чирик-рабадской культуры археологического комплекса Бабиш Мола. Целью исследования выступила практическая и теоретическая реконструкция этапов гончарного производства античных земледельцев и скотоводов низовьев Сырдарьи второй половины I тыс. до н.э. В ходе экспериментальных работ на основе анализа керамики чирик-рабадской культуры воссозданы производственные циклы, начиная от сбора сырья и определения характеристик формовочной массы, конструирования сосудов, обжига и завершая получением конечной продукции. Детальный техникотехнологический анализ экспериментальных эталонов керамики, а также результаты сравнительного анализа эталонов и продуктов гончарного производства чирик-рабадской культуры позволили определить конкретные особенности в гончарном производстве античных земледельцев и скотоводов низовьев Сырдарьи второй половины I тыс. до н.э.

The Kingdom of Navarre was a Christian kingdom located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Its location on the west of the isthmus between the Iberian Peninsula and the European continent allowed an exchange of cultural currents. The main pottery production centres were in Estella, Lumbier, Pamplona, Tafalla, and Tudela. Ceramic pastes from various mediaeval sites were analysed for both elemental and mineralogical composition determination. The results were evaluated using Principal Component Analysis and allowed us to identify each production centre. Each manufacturing centre showed a different and characteristic composition of raw materials. Ceramics from Tudela were Ca-, Mg-, Na-, and Sr-rich. Ceramics from Estella were richer in Al, K, and Ti. Ca, Sc, and Sr contents were higher in Tafalla ceramics. Lumbier ceramics stood out for being enriched in Si, Mn, Fe, and Zr. Pamplona ceramics showed intermediate values. The analysis of samples from other Navarrese locations allowed us to begin to define what the commercial ceramic network in the Kingdom of Navarre was like during the Middle Ages. Therefore, two aims were defined for this paper: to characterise the ceramic pastes for each of the producing centres and to know where the ceramics were exported to.

In recent years, interest in the usage of computer-based methods in archaeology, especially regarding field documentation, has grown significantly. In 2021, Göttlich et al. presented a new large-scale three-dimensional (3D) capture method for the documentation of pottery using structure from motion. This method, however, was only tested on a very small sample set and never truly conducted in a large-scale documentation surrounding. Consequently, we decided to test this workflow on a large-scale basis during three field campaigns (March 2022, November 2022, and March 2023) in Lebanon, documenting more than 4,000 sherds in total. In this article, I will present the results and observations of these campaigns, critically discuss the workflow involved (documentation and processing), and propose a refined workflow for this methodology. This article focuses solely on the relevant documentation and 3D processing.