The development of pottery production, specialisation and standardisation in the Late Neolithic and Transitional Chalcolithic periods in the Central Plateau of Iran

Marghussian, A.; Coningham, R.A.E.; Fazeli, H.

Abstract

The prehistoric pottery recovered from Sialk, Ebrahimabad and Pardis sites, the Central Plateau of Iran was studied using the XRF, XRD and SEM/EDX analyses, as well as typological classification. These studies showed the occurrence of a gradual evolution in pottery making in each site from the Sialk I type fragile buff pottery of Late Neolithic period to the dense, strong and more impermeable Sialk II type red pottery in the final phase of Transitional Chalcolithic period. The relative similarity of compositions, and the presence of high- temperature minerals demonstrated a high degree of specialisation in the selection of raw materials and control of the firing temperature and atmosphere in the potters of the three sites in the final phase of Transitional Chalcolithic period.

Citation

Marghussian, A., Coningham, R., & Fazeli, H. (2021). The development of pottery production, specialisation and standardisation in the Late Neolithic and Transitional Chalcolithic periods in the Central Plateau of Iran. Archaeological Research in Asia, 28, Article 100325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ara.2021.100325

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 18, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Deposit Date: Jan 12, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2023
• Journal: Archaeological Research in Asia
• Print ISSN: 2352-2267
• Electronic ISSN: 2352-2275
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Article Number: 100325
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ara.2021.100325
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1218775