UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Early Islanders: Neolithic pottery from Soline, island of Korčula (Croatia)

Grabowski, S; Miše, M; Quinn, P; Parica, M; (2025) Early Islanders: Neolithic pottery from Soline, island of Korčula (Croatia). Journal of Archaeological Science Reports , 66 , Article 105304. 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105304.

[thumbnail of Accepted Manuscript] Text (Accepted Manuscript)
Mise_Early Islanders. Neolithic pottery from Soline, island of Korcula Croatia_AAM.pdf
Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 17 July 2026.

Download (1MB)
[thumbnail of Supplementary Material] Archive (Supplementary Material)
Mise_Early Islanders. Neolithic pottery from Soline, island of Korcula Croatia_SuppM .zip
Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 17 July 2026.

Download (29MB)

Abstract

The Late Neolithic period in the Eastern Adriatic was characterized by the emergence of settled communities along the coast and on the islands, including Soline, a Hvar culture site off the north-eastern coast of the Island of Korčula (Croatia). This open-air coastal site with stone architecture contrasts with preferentially preserved cave-sites, providing an opportunity to gain further insight into the organization and interactions of these seafaring communities during this period. The present study aims to ascertain whether this island community was producing their own pottery and if so, to reconstruct their technological choices. This has been carried out through a combination of ceramic petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF) analysis of sherds recovered from the site. Geochemical and petrographic analysis revealed two distinct pottery traditions—both consistent with local raw materials though with different tempering practices, forming techniques, and firing conditions—while also identifying evidence of marine post-depositional alteration. Most of this assemblage was characterized by coarse calcite temper, with two untempered sherds resembling coarse figulina wares generally associated with the Danilo Culture. The analysis of the present samples suggests the local production of pottery, with material and technological similarities to vessels found elsewhere in Dalmatia. This fits the interpretation of Soline as a permanently occupied site that was part of a larger regional tradition, though future analysis of material from Soline will provide further insight into its role and interactions in Neolithic Dalmatia.

Type: Article
Title: Early Islanders: Neolithic pottery from Soline, island of Korčula (Croatia)
DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105304
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105304
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: Neolithic, Ceramics, Croatia, Hvar culture, Geochemistry, Thin section petrography, Technology
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology > Institute of Archaeology Gordon Square
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10211947
Downloads since deposit
7Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item