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The pottery from Nea Nikomedeia in its Balkan context.

Yiouni, Paraskevi; (1992) The pottery from Nea Nikomedeia in its Balkan context. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London). Green open access

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Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the pottery from the Early Neolithic site of Nea Nikomedeia. First, the material is examined as a product of a Neolithic community and the technology, shapes, decoration and function of the vessels are studied. Second, the site of Nea Nikomedeia is placed in its chronological and cultural context. The manufacturing techniques used by the Nea Nikomedeia potters, the nature of surface coatings and firing conditions, are examined. Questions concerning the location of clay sources and non-plastic inclusions, the addition of temper and refining of clay, are discussed. The simultaneous use, by the Nea Nikomedeia potters, of a variety of local clay sources seems to have been a widespread practice among the Balkan Neolithic potters. The shapes and decoration of vessels from Nea Nikomedeia are analytically presented, and their development through time is studied. In order to gain insight into the function of vessels the minimum number of pots has been calculated, and the suitability of pots for cooking and storage, is examined. The estimated rate of annual pottery production is rather high, suggesting that pots were an important element of every-day life, and that they were used for a variety of functions. The cultural affinities of Nea Nikomedeia, as reflected in the ceramic material (decoration, technology and shapes) and other find categories, are discussed. Review of the ceramic material from the Early Neolithic Balkan sites clearly indicates that there was a high degree of interaction and contacts among different areas of the Balkan region. At Nea Nikomedeia in particular, we find evidence for contact between two major primary Neolithic areas, Thessaly and the Greek Neolithic to the south, and the First Temperate Neolithic (FTN) to the north, each with their developed but distinct ceramic and cultural traditions. Finally, the question of the origin and development of the pottery in the FTN area, is discussed. Comparative study of the technology and decoration of the vessels from the FTN sites and sites of the surrounding areas, suggests that the development of ceramic production in the FTN area has to be considered to a great extent, as a local development. This conclusion is in contrast with the hypothesis that pottery and the Neolithic way of life were introduced into the Balkan area by Near-Eastern immigrants.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Qualification: Ph.D
Title: The pottery from Nea Nikomedeia in its Balkan context.
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10116060
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