We present here results of a petrographic examination of Neolithic pottery found at the archaeological site of Stonehall, Orkney Islands, Scotland. The petrographic characterisation of two pottery classes, Round-based ware and Grooved ware, belonging to the early and late Neolithic periods respectively, is set against the archaeological background that calls for a review of the culture-history framework that has traditionally supported this pottery classification. On the basis of the typology of fragmentary rock inclusions observed in the pottery, three groups have been identified, the largest of which is characterised by the presence of sedimentary rock inclusions, the other two by the presence of camptonite fragments. The main finding is that the same materials seem to have been used for pottery making throughout the Neolithic at Stonehall. As regards the sources of the pottery’s raw materials, whereas the sedimentary inclusions were not diagnostic of origin, the camptonite was more informative. With the aid of the British Geological Survey’s reference collection of thin sections of lamprophyric dykes on Orkney, it was possible to isolate potential sources of camptonite, two of which were close to Stonehall. The issue of whether the pottery was naturally or deliberately tempered is discussed
PETROGRAPHIC STUDIES OF NEOLITHIC POTTERY FROM STONEHALL, ORKEY ISLANDS, SCOTLAND
MARITAN, LARA;
2000
Abstract
We present here results of a petrographic examination of Neolithic pottery found at the archaeological site of Stonehall, Orkney Islands, Scotland. The petrographic characterisation of two pottery classes, Round-based ware and Grooved ware, belonging to the early and late Neolithic periods respectively, is set against the archaeological background that calls for a review of the culture-history framework that has traditionally supported this pottery classification. On the basis of the typology of fragmentary rock inclusions observed in the pottery, three groups have been identified, the largest of which is characterised by the presence of sedimentary rock inclusions, the other two by the presence of camptonite fragments. The main finding is that the same materials seem to have been used for pottery making throughout the Neolithic at Stonehall. As regards the sources of the pottery’s raw materials, whereas the sedimentary inclusions were not diagnostic of origin, the camptonite was more informative. With the aid of the British Geological Survey’s reference collection of thin sections of lamprophyric dykes on Orkney, it was possible to isolate potential sources of camptonite, two of which were close to Stonehall. The issue of whether the pottery was naturally or deliberately tempered is discussedPubblicazioni consigliate
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