Pottery Technology at the Dawn of the Metal Age : Exploring Dynamics Within Vinca Material Culture

This book investigates the reconstruction and transmission of pottery-making recipes at the Neolithic/Chalcolithic sites of Belovode and Pločnik (c. 5350/5300-4500), two key settlements of the Vinča culture located in northeast and south Serbia, respectively. Both sites have recently yielded some of the earliest known copper artefacts in Eurasia, making them exceptional case studies for exploring the evolution of ceramic technology during the transition to the Metal Age. An interdisciplinary methodology--combining macroscopic observations with a suite of analytical techniques including thin section petrography, XRF, XRPD, and SEM--was applied to a wide selection of ceramic samples. These samples span the full typological and technological spectrum of pottery from both sites, enabling the reconstruction and comparison of production recipes across different occupational phases. The study's primary aim was to trace the transmission of technological knowledge in pottery production and to investigate potential pyrotechnological links with the emergence of early metallurgy. The results demonstrate the value of integrating materials science with archaeological inquiry. They reveal distinct technological choices and refined craftsmanship, offering fresh insights into the interplay between ceramic production and metallurgical innovation at the dawn of the Metal Age.

Silvia Amicone is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Tübingen, where she focuses on the study of archaeomaterials through an interdisciplinary approach. She earned her PhD in archaeological science at University College London, where she is also an Honorary Research Associate at the UCL Institute of Archaeology. Her research combines material analysis with scientific and archaeological methods to understand the techniques and knowledge of ancient materials. She is also deeply engaged in experimental archaeology, reconstructing ceramic production processes to gain deeper insights into past technologies and craftsmanship. She directs and co-directs several international projects and has published in academic journals worldwide. In addition to her research, she contributes to the training of young scholars and the development of interdisciplinary collaborative initiatives. She currently serves as President of the Ceramic Petrology Group, further supporting the advancement of ceramic research and professional exchange in the field.