Articles tagged with Pottery
The study of Durrington Walls pottery and animal bones shows evidence of planned autumn and winter slaughtering, mass animal consumption, particularly pigs, and barbecue-style roasting. This suggests a well-organized community with shared understanding of food preparation and consumption.
Archaeologists have found the oldest known pottery from Papua New Guinea, dating back 3,000 years, in a remote region of the highlands. The discovery sheds light on how technology spread among cultures and provides insights into early civilizations.
Researchers found that social factors triggered the development of pottery in north-eastern North America, primarily used for processing fish and producing fish oil. Abundant aquatic resources allowed investment in pottery production.
Researchers at Saarland University have developed a method to print paper-thin, electro-luminescent displays on various materials, including paper, synthetic material, leather, and wood. These displays can be printed in any desired shape and can depict self-created symbols or react to touch.
The creation of the Vuoksi River approximately 6,000 years ago led to a significant cultural shift in eastern Finland. The rapid decrease in Lake Saimaa's water level revealed fertile land, flourishing elk populations attracted innovative human settlements, and a new culture emerged.
Researchers have found evidence of chili pepper residues in ancient pottery dating back to 400 BC, suggesting that Mixe-Zoquean cultures may have used chili peppers for multiple culinary purposes. The discovery opens the door for further research into the uses of chili peppers in prehistoric times.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that prehistoric northern European societies used garlic mustard as a spice, flavored meats and starches. The findings suggest that the practice of using spices to enhance food flavor dates back at least 6,100 years.
A pioneering study reveals that prehistoric hunter-gatherers in Japan used ceramic vessels to cook freshwater and marine organisms, including high-trophic level aquatic foods. The discovery sheds light on the emergence and widespread adoption of ceramic technology in hunter-gatherer societies.
Researchers reveal evidence of dairy farming in prehistoric Saharan Africa around 7,000 years ago, based on fatty acid analysis of ancient pottery. This finding confirms the early presence of domesticated cattle and milk in the region.
Scientists have discovered the first evidence of Pre-Columbian sources of palygorskite for Maya Blue. Researchers established a link between contemporary indigenous knowledge and ancient mines in Mexico's northern Yucatan Peninsula.
Researchers have found evidence of ancient popcorn in Peru, dating back 6,700 to 3,000 years. The discovery provides valuable information on the evolution of corn and its adaptation to different environments.
A new UCLA study suggests that warfare likely shaped the development of civilization in the Titicaca basin of southern Peru. The researchers found evidence of massive fires, iconographic signs of conflict and agricultural decline after a devastating fire in Taraco state, indicating war may have led to the downfall of this early settlem...
A team of divers has been mapping freshwater pools in Cara Blanca, Belize, which were important to the ancient Maya. The divers found fossilized animal remains, bits of pottery, and an enormous underwater cave in the largest pool explored.
Archaeologists are studying the production of large quantities of decorated ceramic vessels by the prehistoric Hohokam people without a managerial elite hierarchy. The researchers aim to understand how a egalitarian society achieved mass-production techniques.
The University of Kansas researcher has evaluated the stone balls for UNESCO, exploring their outstanding value to humanity. The study sheds light on the ancient origins of the massive orbs, which were created around 600 A.D.
Researchers believe Salado pottery, created between 1275 and 1450, promotes fertility and cooperation, decreasing conflict among females and connecting different ethnic groups. The traditional movement allowed communities to stabilize in modern-day Arizona and New Mexico.
Researchers Gary Feinman and Linda Nicholas integrated textual information with archaeological research to provide a more holistic view of Shihuangdi's reign and its impact on eastern China. Their study reveals that the area was already inhabited before the emperor's colonization efforts, contradicting previous historical accounts.
A UCLA archaeologist finds that eBay's online auction house has an unexpected chilling effect on looting of antiquities, diverting villages to producing fake artifacts instead. The proliferation of these copies reduces incentives to loot and depresses the market for real items.
Researchers have found that small islands in the Caribbean were preferred by early settlers for their rich marine resources and fertile coastlines. These smaller islands offered better wind flow, fewer mosquitoes, and more abundant fish, making them an attractive choice for subsistence and economic benefits.
The discovery at Tell Edfu sheds light on the emergence of urban life in ancient Egypt, revealing a prosperous urban center with grain silos that functioned as banks and food sources. The site provides new information about the development of cities in Egypt, challenging traditional views that focused on monumental architecture.
Researchers from Wheaton College and The Field Museum discovered how the ancient Maya created the renowned blue pigment Maya Blue. They found that the pigment was produced through a ritual combination of indigo, palygorskite, and copal incense, which was then used in sacrificial ceremonies.
A Purdue University archaeologist has uncovered an ancient iron ore mine in South America, showcasing the importance of hematite to ancient Andean civilizations. The discovery provides valuable information on the Nasca people's use of minerals for ceramic paints and other purposes.
Researchers found chemical traces of caffeine and theobromine in ancient pottery shards dating back to 1100 B.C., indicating that cacao was consumed as a fermented drink before being used for chocolate. The discovery offers new insights into the earliest consumption of cacao, challenging previous assumptions about its history.
Researchers have pushed back the known use of cacao by 500 years, tracing it to fermented beverages made from sweet pulp and seeds between 1400 and 1100 B.C.E. This discovery sheds light on the early development of chocolate culture in the Americas.
Scientists have deciphered the meaning behind mysterious faces on South Pacific artifacts, revealing that they may represent sea turtles. The research, published in the Cambridge Archaeological Journal, suggests that these ceramic portraits and wooden bowls display ideas about human origins and the divine.
Scientists discovered high concentrations of silver in Jerusalem pottery, suggesting significant wealth in the city during the Second Temple period. The findings, published in Archaeometry, used X-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analysis to analyze 1,200 pottery vessels from 38 sites in Roman Judea.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati have uncovered a significant ancient Greek temple in coastal Albania, dating back to the late 6th century B.C. The temple's discovery is expected to contribute substantially to the understanding of religious life in the Adriatic region during the Archaic and Classical periods.
A new study suggests that the Olmec civilization imported pottery from other cultures, contradicting previous claims that it was the sole source. The findings use petrography to identify minerals in pottery fragments and reveal reciprocal trade between highland and lowland centers.
A team of archaeologists from Boston University has uncovered the story of life among rural Maya in Belize's Sibun River Valley during the Late Classic Period. The research reveals a community that practiced sustainable agriculture and maintained dense vegetation to support their trade product: cacao.
Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have discovered tiny footpaths in Costa Rica that were precursors to wide, deep, and ritualistic roadways leading to and from cemeteries and villages. The team found that people traveled these paths for centuries, creating worn pathways up to 3 meters deep.
A new analytical technique allows archaeologists to accurately date pottery and associated artifacts, resolving issues with organic material dating. The method involves extracting lipids from pottery fragments and radiocarbon dating them, providing a more reliable way to classify archaeological sites.
A new classification system for Mycenaean pottery is being developed to better understand the civilization's culture and influence. The system, which considers shapes, colors, decorations, and clay materials, challenges previous assumptions about Minoan influence on Mycenaean art.
Archaeologists have uncovered a large Middle Kingdom temple in the Nile Delta, with traces of five earlier temples dating back to around 3100 BC. The discovery includes ritual objects and burial grounds, providing insight into ancient Egyptian temple rituals.
Researchers used electron microscopy to analyze 18th century Staffordshire-style earthenware, finding varying amounts of oxides added for color. The study suggests that cheap knock-offs may have been made and passed off as authentic Staffordshire pottery, highlighting the potential for mass production in the industry.
The Bluff Great House in Utah has yielded new insights into the Chaco culture, with CU-Boulder students playing a key role in excavations. The site, linked to the mighty Chaco culture, features a great kiva and prehistoric roads.