Experimental Approaches to the Pyrotechnology of Ancient Ceramics: A Look from the Prehistoric Balkans

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• Silvia Amicone (University of Tübingen)
• Friday 09 May 2025, 13:15-14:00
• Seminar Room, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Site.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Qin-Qin Lü.

Ceramic pyrotechnology offers critical insights into the technological skills and cultural choices of early pottery-making communities. Firing, the process that transforms raw clay into durable ceramic, has often been studied in fragmented ways. Researchers have tended to separate kiln structures from temperature regimes and to rely heavily on ethnographic analogies. This talk presents an integrated approach that combines archaeometric analyses with experimental archaeology to better understand ancient firing practices. Focusing on Neolithic ceramics from the Balkans, a region known for its advanced pyrotechnological knowledge, we apply techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ceramic petrography, alongside controlled pit-firing experiments. This interdisciplinary framework reveals how prehistoric potters managed atmosphere, temperature, and duration, offering new insights into their technical capabilities and decision-making processes. The approach also highlights its broader potential for application across diverse archaeological contexts.

Bio

Silvia Amicone is a lecturer at the University of Tübingen, where she focuses on the study of ancient ceramic technology through an interdisciplinary approach. She earned her PhD in archaeological science at University College London and has since collaborated with numerous international research institutes, with a particular focus on ceramic production in the ancient world. Her research combines material analysis with scientific and archaeological methods to understand the techniques and knowledge of ancient potters. She is also deeply engaged in experimental archaeology, reconstructing ceramic production processes to gain deeper insights into past technologies and craftsmanship. Through her work, she explores how technological practices reflect broader social, cultural, and economic dynamics. She has published in international academic journals and is a frequent speaker at conferences in the field. In addition to her research, she contributes to the training of young scholars and the development of interdisciplinary collaborative projects.

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This talk is part of the Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• Pitt-Rivers Archaeological Science Seminar Series
• Seminar Room, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Downing Site

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