Social Dynamics, Knowledge Spheres, and Technological Transfers in Balearic Island Pottery during the 2nd Millennium b.c.

ABSTRACT

The Middle and Late Bronze Ages can be characterized by an increase in connectivity, and the Balearic Islands are no exception. In order to more deeply explore this phenomenon, we analyze pottery forming processes by studying manufacturing traces, which allow us to observe technological practices and the transfer of technical know-how. Our case study is centered around a technological analysis of the most common type of pottery: a cask shaped vessel. An analysis of the evidence related to the production process allows us to define nine distinct forming processes used at differing intensities across the entirety of the Balearic archipelago. Thus, we are able to identify the technological practices employed and provide a deeper understanding of the contact dynamics related to the transmission of technological knowledge between communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Balearic Islands
• Middle and Late Bronze Ages
• manufacturing traces
• technical know-how
• forming techniques
• pottery

Acknowledgments

This paper was researched and written under the scientific objectives and with funding from the R&D project Movilidad y conectividad de las comunidades prehistóricas en el Mediterráneo Occidental durante la prehistoria reciente: El caso de las Islas Baleares, financed by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación del Gobierno de España (AEI/10.13039/501100011033 PID2019-108692GB-I00).

Disclosure Statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jaume García-Rosselló

Jaume Garcia Roselló is Professor of Prehistory at the University of the Balearic Islands. He has worked extensively on different topics such as prehistoric pottery technology, ethnoarchaeology, and archaeological heritage management. He has developed ethnoarchaeological projects in Ghana and Chile and archaeological projects in the Balearic Islands and Sardinia. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9771-6192.

Manuel Calvo-Trias

Manuel Calvo-Trias is Professor of Prehistory at the University of the Balearic Islands and director of the research group ArqueoUIB. He is the main researcher of several archaeological projects, both in the Balearic Islands as well as abroad. His research interests include the prehistory of the Balearic Islands, archaeological heritage management, pottery technology, and island archaeology. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7792-7478.