Arditrn)mrrr,v 30, 2 (198R). 264-274. Printed in Great Britain ASSESSMENT OF IN-SITE VARIABILITY OF POTTERY FROM SESKLO, THESSALY Y. MANIATIS Instiiuie of Materials Science, N.R.C. Demokritos. Aghia Paraskevi. Aiiikis, Greece V. PERDIKATSIS Instilute 01 Geology and Mineral E.rploration, Mesogion 70, Athens. Grecce and K. KOTSAKIS Dt~parimeni of’ Archaeology, University of Thessuloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece INTRODUCTION Sesklo became known at the beginning of this century with the pioneering work of Tsountias (1 909) and Wace and Thomson (1 9 12). Since then much work has been carried out on the site in two different periods, first by Professor D. R. Theocharis in the years 1956-77 and second by a team of his collaborators who, after his death in 1978, took over the work and continue to the present (Kotsakis 1981, 1982, 1983). Thirty years of more or less continuous research on the site has shed light on many problems relating not only to the site itself but to the greater Thessalian area, confirming thus the position of Sesklo as a type site for the neolithic of Thessaly (Theocharis 1973). Research in Thessalian neolithic during the 1960s was dominated by the chronological problem. Research during this period was almost exclusively focused on pottery typology. In fact, problems of chronology and cultural relations were tackled through the establish- ment of a rigid typological scheme (MilojEiE 1960) and its applicability in a wider context taken more or less for granted. However, the impact from the new orientations in archaeology did not leave Thessalian neolithic studies unaffected (Hourmouziades 1979). Although questions of chronology are still discussed (Weisshaar 1979) there seems to be a gradual shift of the emphasis of research towards a better understanding of the nature of archaeological evidence in Thessaly (Halstead 1981, 1985, Halstead and O’Shea 1982). Not least in this respect is the question of ceramic technology. Understanding the technological basis of the pottery production in Thessaly is a crucial step in the evaluation of the evidence and of its role in a wider reconstruction. Up to now these new orientations are sometimes overburdened by the technological aspect of pottery. The question of pottery making or ‘ceramic ecology’ following the term introduced by Matson (1965), clearly encompasses much more. The understanding of the particular way in which ceramic production integrates with the economic formation of the prehistoric communities should be regarded as referring to the ‘cultural’ context of pottery making versus ‘natural’ (Pritch- ard and van der Leeuw 1985) although this neat dichotomy may reflect more of a taxonotriic consideration than an interpretive objective. Problems relating to clay resources, produc- 264
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Arditrn)mrrr,v 30, 2 (198R). 264-274. Printed in Great Britain
ASSESSMENT OF IN-SITE VARIABILITY OF POTTERY FROM SESKLO, THESSALY
Y . MANIATIS
Instiiuie of Materials Science, N.R.C. Demokritos. Aghia Paraskevi. Aiiikis, Greece
V. PERDIKATSIS
Instilute 01 Geology and Mineral E.rploration, Mesogion 70, Athens. Grecce
and K . KOTSAKIS
Dt~parimeni of’ Archaeology, University of Thessuloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
INTRODUCTION
Sesklo became known at the beginning of this century with the pioneering work of Tsountias ( 1 909) and Wace and Thomson ( 1 9 12). Since then much work has been carried out on the site in two different periods, first by Professor D. R. Theocharis in the years 1956-77 and second by a team of his collaborators who, after his death in 1978, took over the work and continue to the present (Kotsakis 1981, 1982, 1983).
Thirty years of more or less continuous research on the site has shed light on many problems relating not only to the site itself but to the greater Thessalian area, confirming thus the position of Sesklo as a type site for the neolithic of Thessaly (Theocharis 1973).
Research in Thessalian neolithic during the 1960s was dominated by the chronological problem. Research during this period was almost exclusively focused on pottery typology. In fact, problems of chronology and cultural relations were tackled through the establish- ment of a rigid typological scheme (MilojEiE 1960) and its applicability in a wider context taken more o r less for granted.
However, the impact from the new orientations in archaeology did not leave Thessalian neolithic studies unaffected (Hourmouziades 1979). Although questions of chronology are still discussed (Weisshaar 1979) there seems to be a gradual shift of the emphasis of research towards a better understanding of the nature of archaeological evidence in Thessaly (Halstead 1981, 1985, Halstead and O’Shea 1982).
Not least in this respect is the question of ceramic technology. Understanding the technological basis of the pottery production in Thessaly is a crucial step in the evaluation of the evidence and of its role in a wider reconstruction. Up to now these new orientations are sometimes overburdened by the technological aspect of pottery. The question of pottery making or ‘ceramic ecology’ following the term introduced by Matson (1965), clearly encompasses much more. The understanding of the particular way in which ceramic production integrates with the economic formation of the prehistoric communities should be regarded as referring to the ‘cultural’ context of pottery making versus ‘natural’ (Pritch- ard and van der Leeuw 1985) although this neat dichotomy may reflect more of a taxonotriic consideration than an interpretive objective. Problems relating to clay resources, produc-
264
Assessment of in-site variability of pottery ,from Sesklo, Thessaly 265
tion techniques and craft specialization are some of the questions that can be answered through a technological analysis and have a definite interpretive potential within this more general regard.
There has been previous interest in the study of the technology of the Thessalian pottery (Maniatis and Tite 1981, Letsch and Noll 1983) in a wider geographical context. The results of these approaches offered information for the reconstruction of regional phenomena, such as trade or exchange networks. However, it was thought that a more fruitful approach in this respect might be ‘microanalysis’, i.e. analysis at the settlement level, which will focus mainly on local phenomena (Rice 1985).
Sesklo can be considered as an ideal site for this sort of analysis, as it has been extensively excavated. No fewer than 25 different houses can be sampled, a number unparalleled by any other excavated neolithic site in Greece. Moreover it has been suggested that the site was
Figure 1 and B are clearly demurcated by circulur ~ ~ a l l s around Sesklo A .
Sesklo site plan indicating excavared buildings and trcvd1e.s. The two areus of the settlement, Sesklo A
h, m
m
Tab
le 1
El
emen
la1
conc
enrr
atio
n of
Sesk
lo p
orie
rv d
eter
min
ed b
y XR
F m
alys
is
Con
cenr
ratio
n (w
t %
) C
once
rtir
atio
n (p
pm)
Sam
ple
Fe2
03
CaO
T
iO,
K,O
S
O2
A
I,O
, MgO
Na,
O
P,O
, M
nO
Tot
al
Rb
1.' Sr
Z
r
SK- I
SK
-2
SK-3
SK
-4
SK-5
SK
-6
SK-7
SK
-8
SK-9
SK
-10
SK-1
I SK
- 12
SK- 1
3 SK
- 14
SK-1
5 SK
- 16
SK-1
7 SK
-18
SK- 1
9 SK
-20
SK-2
1 SK
-22
SK-2
3 SK
-24
SK-2
5 SK
-26
6.15
2.
03
2.58
0.
18
4.82
1.
73
5.02
1.
16
6.31
2.
29
3.58
11
.70
4.51
1.
31
4.79
1.
13
2.36
0.
50
4.M
0.
80
3.70
7.
22
2.70
12
.20
3.20
11
.75
1.51
8.
02
3.98
1.
02
5.w
2.
12
4.51
0.
79
4.26
0.
72
4.58
2.
26
5.70
1.
15
4.23
6.
76
5.40
0.
72
8.47
8.
1 1
8.69
1.
20
3.75
9.
22
5.31
2.
30
0.80
2.
66
0.51
3.
31
0.35
3.
64
0.73
3.
16
0.82
2.
73
0.62
3.
33
0.51
3.
68
0.45
3.
67
0.48
3.
35
0.42
3.
32
0.35
3.
12
0.35
4.
12
0.24
3.
98
0.42
3.
77
0.47
3.
33
0.47
3.
89
0.48
3.
94
0.44
3.
61
0.41
3.
30
0.65
3.
11
0.91
2.
46
0.85
2.
82
0.44
3.
05
0.49
3.
93
0.52
2.
36
0.62
3.
38
63.1
8 66
.72
64.1
7 62
.19
61.0
53
.4
67.3
2 61
.43
68.1
7 68
.10
63.7
8 54
.65
58.9
4 64
.26
65.0
63
.9
66.4
9 68
.69
63.7
4 M
.4
62.4
3 66.0
54.6
0 60
.47
56.2
5 57
.93
20.0
4 1.
49
2.28
0.
35
0.02
99
.0
22.0
1 1.
66
2.40
0.
08
0.03
93
.76
19.4
2 1.
52
2.66
0.1
1 0.
05
98.4
7 21
.98
1.57
2.
37
0.13
0.
13
98.4
4 20
.98
1.21
2.
42
0.40
0.
02
98.1
8 14
.6
1.52
2-
15
0.16
0.
02
90.0
1 17
.65
1.52
2.
54
0.09
0.
04
98.9
3 16
.82
1.47
2.
88
0.16
0.04
99.1
-
99.9
8 19
.24
2.13
2.
44
0.02
17
.65
1.30
2.
69
0.06
0.
03
98.5
14
.79
1.47
2.
60
0.10
0.
08
97.9
8 13
.92
1.38
2.
46
0.14
0.
05
90.7
6
15.8
3 1.
41
3.43
0.
51
0.01
92
.20
18.9
3 2.
77
2.98
0.
04
0.03
98
.97
18.7
5 1.
68
2.86
0.
19
0.13
98
.47
18.4
3 1.
67
2.80
0.
19
0.07
99
.3
16.5
7 1.
52
2.94
0.
32
0.07
99
.5
18.6
9 1.
61
2.92
0.
72
0.12
98
.7
18.7
4 1.
69
2.67
0.
30
0.36
99
.0
16.2
4 1.
50
2.58
0.
24
0.09
97
.78
19.8
1 1.
07
2.45
0.
12
0.06
99
.4
14.2
5 3.
13
2.42
0.
63
0.1
1 95
.09
17.4
6 5.
56
2.18
0.
03
0.05
99
.51
16.3
6 1.
71
2.47
0.
17
0.08
93
.5
18.1
2 2.
98
1.85
0.
01
0.01
93
.02
14.1
0 2.
81
2.49
0.
20
0.07
98
.03
90
110 87
100 85
85
10
5 11
0 I I
2 I I
0 95
107 95
92
90
108
I17
110
111
137
I22 91
63
80
125
I17
35
17
15
37
36
25
27
25
20
23
16
17
19
13
21
24
25
13
26
29
25
29
39
29
32
31
87
24
116 95
136
I44 63
38
31
50
100
101
I88
129
168
175 79
83
75
75
65
44
I32 80
87
48
150
128 81
%
136
g. 13
4 a,
95
.!. 14
5 y
116
'tl
125
3 11
4 $
117
f?
90
5. 91
a
76
5 10
9 12
7 .
121
6 11
0 g
118
fi
126 ''
118
143
149
140 98
99
Assessment of in-site variability of pottery from Sesklo, Thessaly 267
divided into two distinct areas, Sesklo A and Sesklo B (figure l ) , demarcated by enclosure walls (Theocharis 1973). Such a physical territorial demarcation is likely to reflect sociocul- tural factors (Tringham 1972) and poses an interesting problem for within-site pottery analysis.
Archaeological analysis of the pottery from the site has shown that the final phase of the settlement belonged to the late Middle Neolithic period, after which only a brief occupation phase of the Late Neolithic appeared on Sesklo A. The majority of the excavated houses belong to this final Middle Neolithic phase (Kotsakis 1983) and give a fairly good idea of the horizontal distribution of pottery. On the other hand continuity of occupation was demonstrated by a series of deep trenches that showed a life span beginning in the Preceramic period of Thessaly (Wijnen 1982).
MATERIALS A N D E X P E R I M E N T A L T E C H N I Q U E S
The samples collected tentatively aimed to monitor changes in pottery technology both through time as well as spatially. Twenty-five samples were collected from both areas of the settlement, covering the whole time span of Early Neolithic (EN) and Middle Neolithic (MN) at the site. All samples come from house interiors and belong to well-stratified levels. In addition, raw clay from the vicinity of Sesklo, which in the laboratory has been found suitable for making pots similar to those from Sesklo, was included in the sample.
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used for the analysis of major and some trace elements of body and surface pigments. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thin section analysis was used for the identification of mineral phases and rock fragments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for the examination of the microstructures and determination of the firing temperatures.
RESULTS A N D D I S C U S S I O N
The elemental analysis results obtained with XRF are shown in table 1. Sample 26 is the raw clay from the vicinity of Sesklo. On first inspection, a large variation can be observed in the concentration of CaO among the various samples ranging from 0.18% to 12.2%. CaO plays an important role in the refractory properties of the clay (Tite and Maniatis 1975) as will be discussed later, but it does not help in the identification of the origin of the clay, since it could be added as temper or deposited naturally in one particular clay pit but not in others within the same geographical region.
Provenance investigation With only four trace elements determined with XRF a limited attempt was made to place the samples in possible groups. Various plots were tried taking the elements in pairs or in ratios but in every case a homogeneous large distribution of samples was obtained. One of these plots is shown in figure 2. It is interesting to note that the raw clay (sample 26) falls very near the general distribution. Furthermore, in figure 2 a tendency to a linear corre- lation between yttrium and zirconium can be seen, perhaps indicating that these two elements are interrelated to a certain degree possibly through some non-plastic inclusions which appear in different concentrations among the samples. This fact, together with the general homogeneous distribution, could suggest a common origin for all the sherds.
268
LO c Y . Maniatis. V . Perdikatsis und K . Kotsakis
> 301 3
0
I4 0
25 *x26
6
13
0'2
20 0
10 0
15 0
11 0 2 0
IS 0
23 0
4 5 0
1 0
24 22 0 .
o7
Trchnologicul invesrigation The results o f the technological investigation appear in table 2. The samples are listed in chronological order. The quality description is based on archaeological observation (Kot-
056-006 056 - 008 - 051 >
050 1-056 oso 1-058
OS01-058
00
6a
8
006 - 006 - 008 - OSL - OSL >
OSL ' OSL ' O
SL >
OSL >
058-008
OS6-0S8
OSL '
OSL ' 051 >
05L >
O
Sl '
OS8-OSL
El11 NW
BIII N
W
8111 NW
8111 N
M
8IIl NW
HI11 N
W
8111 NW
8111 N
W
8111 NW
8111 NW
8111 N
N
8III:VLII NW.
Vlll N
hl
VIlI N
N
VIlI N
W
VIII/II N
W
III/II NN
11-1 N
W
I NPI
111 N3
I1 N
3 I1 N
3
I N3
I N3
I N3
a 0
B 8
V
V v V
V
V
v B fl B
V
V
V
V
V
V
v V
v V V
61-?IS
E->IS I -YS
SZ-?Is PZ-?IS
z-ns
u-ns z
1-m
Iz-Ys oz-?Is I I-?Is 9->IS S-Y
S P
-XS
11-?Is
ni-xs
91-'>is
51-?IS
PI -?Is ZZ-X
S E
l-BS
6-?IS 01-?Is
L-?Is n-?Is
270 Y . Maniatis, V. Perdikatsis and K . Kotsakis
sakis 1983). The vitrification stages and firing temperatures have been determined by SEM after examination of the microstructure (Maniatis and Tite 198 1). The kiln atmosphere during firing is judged by the colour of the body, e.g. a grey body throughout indicates a reducing atmosphere, a red body indicates an oxidizing atmosphere and a body where grey and red parts are seen indicates a mixed atmosphere. From table 2 the following points can be made. The firing temperatures are generally higher in the MN IIIB period which indicates a technological evolution. On the other hand, the control of the atmosphere does not seem very efficient since most of the samples in all periods seem to have been fired in a mixed atmosphere. It is interesting to note that in a number of the higher fired sherds, bloating pores are present in the microstructure which indicates a fast firing (Maniatis and Tite 1981), perhaps such that could be produced by a bonfire (Shepard 1956).
The use of calcareous clays (indicated by the suffix c in the vitrification stages of table 2) at Sesklo begins in the EN period (sample I3), but their use becomes extensive in the MN IIIB period.
The effect of CaO in the firing of a clay has been thoroughly investigated (Tite and Maniatis 1975, Maniatis and Tite 1978, 1981, Maniatis et al. 1981). Initially it exists in the clay as CaCO,. With firing at around 800-850 "C calcite dissociates to CaO and C 0 2 . The CO, is evolved leaving voids in the clay matrix thus forming a porous, cellular-like structure. The CaO is a strongly reactive flux which, reacting with the clay minerals, forms calcium aluminium silicates such as gehlenite, wollastonite, diopside etc. These new com- pounds crystallize slowly inhibiting the vitrification of the matrix. Thus in calcareous clays a characteristic cellular microstructure is formed which remains constant for 200 "C and in particular between 850°C and 1050°C. Such a clay is therefore fired to a porous ceramic body which is resistant to thermal and mechanical shock. Furthermore, due to the reaction of CaO with Fe,O, (Maniatis et al. 198 1) an orange, pink or even whitish colour is produced depending on the initial amounts of calcite, iron oxides and firing temperature.
Contrary to the calcareous clays, vitrification in the non-calcareous clays starts at about 800 "C and progresses rapidly with every 30 "C temperature rise. Therefore the non- calcareous low refractory clays (containing sufficient quantities of MgO, K,O and Na,O), such as occur at Sesklo, produce dense and glassy ceramics above 800 "C whose quality is difficult to control due to the rapid vitrification (Maniatis and Tite 1981). These clays are also prone to cracking during drying and firing and for these reasons they are often mixed with non-plastic inclusions such as quartz, schists, crushed calcite etc. In addition, due to the lack of CaO in these clays, the Fe,O, is free to crystallize to continuously larger particles producing a red colour which becomes more intense and darker with firing (Maniatis et 01. 1981).
Given the importance of CaO as described above, its distribution among the Sesklo pottery samples was more carefully investigated through the plot illustrated in figure 3. This figure shows the distribution of the samples according to CaO and MgO content. The MgO concentration has been included in this analysis since, when present in large amounts, it produces effects similar to CaO during firing. This is because the MgO originates from the mineral dolomite (CaCO,. MgCO,) and being in a carbonate form dissociates upon firing producing all the associated effects described above. The ordinate in figure 3 indicates which of the two oxides dominates and in what degree, while the abscissa gives the total amount of CaO plus MgO. The borderline between 'calcareous' and 'non-calcareous' clays is around 6% of CaO plus MgO content. Below this amount the clays do not develop the
Assessment of in-site variabiliiy of pottery from Sesklo, Thessaly
SESKLO POTTERY
i 100% 0
4 8 0 . .5
11 JL 2! 0
25 0
23
6 12
2 L
27 1
I a n -, I - I
I 1 I I 1
10 20
Figure 3 of CaO and MgO
Di2erentiation between 'calcareous' and 'non-calcareous' clays of'Sesklo pottery based on concentrations
characteristic cellular microstructure but a dense glassy matrix. At higher total concen- trations of the two oxides the prevailing constituent in most samples is the CaO as seen from, figure 3. However, there is one sherd (sample 24) which contains mainly MgO but since, as explained, this sherd develops the characteristic cellular microstructure, it is classed as calcareous (suffix c in table 2). Furthermore, sample 6, although highly calcareous, does not develop the calcareous microstructure during refiring in the laboratory, probably because the calcite it contains is in a coarse particle form, as was also evidenced by the thin section analysis, thus prohibiting its reaction with the clay minerals.
As will be discussed later the colour of the final fired body plays an important role in the quality of the product. For these reasons the variety of colours which could be produced by the clays available at Sesklo were checked by refirings of the sherds in the laboratory. It was found that the non-calcareous clays, including the raw clay (sample 26), fire in an oxidizing atmosphere to a pale brown colour at temperatures around 800 "C but they soon go to red reaching a dark red colour at temperatures between 900 and 1000°C. The calcareous clays of figure 3 fire to a pink-cream colour at all temperatures above 850°C except the highly calcareous samples 12 and 13, which fire to a whitish colour from 800 "C onwards, and this really distinguishes them from the rest. Sample 6 fires to a pink-red colour, obviously because calcite is coarsely crushed and does not react with the iron oxides.
In table 2 a spatial differentiation between House A, which belongs to the Sesklo B area, and the rest of the Houses belonging to the Acropolis (Sesklo A) can be seen.
Following the evolution of Sesklo A independently of Sesklo B one can see that the use of calcareous clays becomes almost exclusive in the period MN IITB and the temperatures become distinctly higher. Conversely, in Sesklo B calcareous clay has been used only in one case (sample 6) where, as explained earlier, coarse calcite was present which, if intentional and not accidental, must have been added as temper for protection in drying and firing and not for utilizing the properties of calcareous clays. This is further emphasized by the low firing temperature of this sherd. Furthermore, in Sesklo B in the MN IIIB period where
212 Y . Maniatis, V . Perdikatsis and K . Kotsakis
rather higher firing temperatures are observed, the clays are non-calcareous. I t is therefore concluded that, based on this limited but representative data, the use of calcareous clays in Sesklo B is unknown.
One more point should be made about the decoration of the patterned sherds. The decoration is usually made with a thin paint layer, high in iron, low in calcium, of a fine clay which fires to a red colour. This colour makes an attractive aesthetic contrast when it is applied over a pale background. Pale backgrounds are produced by the calcareous clays when fired at temperatures above 800°C.
In the EN period the patterned styles have not yet been used and therefore the need for calcareous clays (i.e. pale background) does not exist. However later, when the patterned pottery occurs, especially in Sesklo A, we have the best examples (samples 21 or 23) in the last period, where with the use of calcareous clays and higher temperatures, an orange background with a red decoration is produced. There are also attempts with red paint on a non-calcareous body, where with a well-controlled atmosphere and at a relatively low temperature a pale brown body (i.e. background) can be achieved (e.g. samples 15 and 4). The need for contrast can also be seen, as in sample 16 where, because the red paint would not contrast with the red colour of the body a white slip has been used on top of which the red paint is applied.
S U M M A R Y O F E X P E R I M E N T A L R E S U L T S
The results so far can be summarized as follows. (a) The clays of Sesklo are of two kinds having different firing properties but they all come from the general Sesklo area. (b) There is almost certainly an evolution in ceramic technology with time which becomes very evident in the MN IIIB period. (c) This evolution is defined as a choice of more suitable clays and firing at higher temperatures. The most probable factors which led to this improvement are the need for more aesthetic appearance and better durability of the final product. (d) The evolution is more pronounced in Sesklo A, while in Sesklo B, although there is a tendency to higher firing temperatures, this is not combined with a suitable material to produce a high quality product. However, the number of samples is not statistically large for definite conclusions.
A R C H A E O L O G I C A L I M P L I C A T I O N S
The development of pottery technology which is more marked at the end of the MN period is clearly demonstrated in this multiperiod site and argues in favour of a gradual local evolution of ceramic craft. I t is interesting to note that this improvement in technology does not coincide with the improvement in quality of pottery, as defined archaeologically. Some of the very fine monochrome ware of the EN period would be considered poor in tech- nological terms. Pressing the argument further, this would seem to imply a change in the role of pottery in the overall economic pattern from EN to MN, but this clearly needs much more research to give a more complete picture.
One parallel aspect of the development in pottery technology concerns the clay used. Its local origin was indicated by the trace element and thin section analysis and by the relative homogeneity of the samples. The use of calcareous clays in relation to high firing tem- peratures represents a definite improvement in technology. It is noteworthy that this
Assessment of in-site variubility of pottery from Sesklo, Thessaly 273
advance becomes more common in the MN and this suggests that by this time the potters at Sesklo were able to recognize the advantage of this clay source, both in quality and appearance of the finished product, and were using it systematically, producing pots that were somewhat more standardized.
Of particular importance for future work on the question of economic integration, might be the observation that a spatial pattern in the use of calcareous clays, in addition to a temporal pattern, also seems to exist. Although the number of samples is small for any definite statements to be made, calcareous clays do seem to be more extensively used at Sesklo A than at Sesklo B. If this fact could be generalized and extended to all painted pottery, the comparison with data already obtained for the concentration of painted pottery in Sesklo A and B then leads to very interesting conclusions. Figure 4 shows the distribution of painted pottery in houses of Sesklo A and one house of Sesklo B (Kotsakis 1983). There are more data for other houses of Sesklo B which extend the above evidence, but since the excavation and study of the material has not yet progressed so far they are considered uncertain and left out of the plot where only the definite counts have been included. In any case it is almost certain that the concentration of painted pottery in the houses of Sesklo A is much higher than the concentration in houses of Sesklo B.
The study of in-site pottery variability has so far received limited attention in Thessalian neolithic studies and there are no comparable data. It must be noted however, that in the case of Sesklo, during the final MN phase, painted pottery with light colour fabrics is far more common at Sesklo A than at Sesklo B. A similar pattern is conceivably expected from the abundant monochrome pottery, but without final evidence from all the pottery, i t could be suggested that the study, currently being carried out on monochrome pottery from Sesklo, will strengthen the previous observation considerably. Thus we might have for the first time in neolithic Greece, some evidence for a differential access to a specific raw material, spatially observable and with potentially important implications for the social structure of the site.
hse 58 Hwse 51 b e 47 House T2 mse 45 Wlo B
Figure 4 from one house on1.v.
Distribution ofpuinied poitery on buf und on redfubric. For Sesklo B reliable statistics run be obtained , lighi buff-fabric: W, red.fubric.
274 Y. Maniatis, V . Perdikatsis and K . Kotsakis
Future research which is now in progress will certainly help to settle these important issues, giving valuable insights on the relation - and the potential - of the technological aspect of pottery with the economic and social formation of Sesklo.
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
Thanks are due to the Agronomy School of Athens for the use of their scanning electron microscope facilities. We are also indebted to Dr S. Andreou, lecturer a t Thessaloniki University, for the discussion of problems relating to the various stages of this work.
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