BINTINTAN ALINA

In the last 30 years, the methods and the techniques of the material sciences used in the ceramics analysis are leading to remarkable results in the European archaeology. Known as archaeometry, these interdisciplinary analyses have enhanced the morphological and typological-stylistic study of archeological artifacts with mineralogical and petrographic information, clarifying aspects of great interest for archaeological research. By knowing the age, composition, origin and provenance of materials, the archaeometric approach is documenting essential aspects of the technological process in the prehistoric pottery production.

This article presents a set of controlled experiments performed to prove in order to prove that it is possible to imitate the Neolithic black-topped pottery, characteristic (metallic look, texture, chromatic) of Foeni group, from Alba Iulia-Lumea Nouă, using a production technique in one phase operation firing method.The experiments conducted during the years 2012-2013 have shown that if we add to an open air firing a protective wall of bricks or mud, and a pit in the ground of 10 to 15 cm depth, then one obtains two different types of firing atmosphere – oxidating and
reducing – within the same operation. A very important procedure is the covering of the fire with ashes resulted from previous firings. This layer of ashes insulates the lower part of the vessel and thus creates the reducing atmosphere which is responsible for the black color on
the upper part and on the inside of the pot. The operating temperature attained during this firing method does not exceed 600 degrees C. The experimental pots largely resembled the Foeni black-topped vessels. An exception is noticeable in the intensity of the nuance of red color, which results from the difference between the clay types.

This study aims to investigatea possible link between the painted pottery from the Alba Iulia-Lumea Nouã settlement and the potential clay sources identified in the proximity of the archaeological site. Sixteen samples (clay and pottery) were collected and afterwards analyzed through two analytical techniques (attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry). The recorded data show similarities for both techniques and give preliminary information regarding the clay composition used for pottery manufacturing in middle Neolithic. Cluster analysis using Average Linkage method correlated the clay sources with the analyzed painted pottery.

The purpose of this article is to reconsider some assumptions of scientific literature and to use information obtained from previous experiments, in order to make possible the blacktopped pottery production, in one-step operation technique using a vertical two chambers kiln. During firing, the maximum temperature reached was 700°C and both firing conditions were achieved. The most important aspect of the firing method, which we propose, is the fact that the results are controllable and repeatable.

This paper presents the preliminary results of an extensive experimental research based on the conclusions drawn
from the examination of black-topped pottery belonging to the Foeni group from the Alba Iulia-Lumea Nouă
settlement (Alba County). A considerable amount of fine quality ceramics and also an increased fragmentary
state of the discoveries enabled us to make some detailed observations on the manufacturing technique of these
particular vessels, bringing into discussion another pottery making sequence, quite different from the coiling
technique.
This category of fine ware pottery, found in Transylvania at the beginning of the Eneolithic period, revealed
some remarkable technical details, showing traces of a production process based on pressing the clay in pre‑shaped
(concave) molds. The starting point of this experimental approach was based on observations regarding the layered
structure (in section) of the pottery artifacts (fig. 2/a-b; fig. 3/a-b) which pinpointed to a certain production
process (fig. 7 – 8). When compared, the cross‑section of our replica pots after firing in an experimental kiln, is very
similar to those found on Foeni pottery fragments (fig. 11 – 12).
These results are important because they indicate a review of the technological process of handbuilding
Eneolithic pottery. This experimental research is part of a scientific project focused on the study of Neolithic and
Eneolithic painted pottery in Transylvania, aiming to answer also some of the questions regarding the use of this
pressed clay method in a broader area while gathering more data about other possible implications of the use of
this particular technological approach.