Reforming procedures. A methodology for archaeological experiments regarding pottery combustion structures

• Published in: Journal of archaeological science, reports reports, 2022-10, Vol.45, p.103617, Article 103617
• Main Authors: Manea, Bogdan, Opris, Vasile, Ignat, Theodor, Lazar, Catalin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Data collection; Experimental archaeology; Pottery combustion structures; Pyrotechnology; Recording strategy
• ISSN: 2352-409X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103617

•The improvement of the methodology on data recording during archaeological experiments.•Reconstruction of the technologies behind the manufacture and use of ceramic kilns, through experimental archaeology and the concept of chaîne opératoire.•Investigation of the human factor, the problems encountered and the solutions adopted, during the process of building and using ceramic kilns during prehistory.•The identification of multiple aspects regarding the thermal efficiency and atmosphere capabilities of the replicated kilns.•A broader perspective on the implications of pyrotechnology and the decision making relative to the overall process of ceramic production, during Chalcolithic. Over time archaeologists interested in pottery combustion structures mainly focused on analysing the ability of particular kilns to meet certain pyrotechnological criteria. Thus, their research was based on testing multiple firing techniques for achieving different combustion atmoshperes, recording and examining thermal data (maximum temperatures/heating rate/soaking time), temporal information about the firing and fuelling stages, as well as the type/quantity of fuel used during the process. Although the above mentioned set of data is highly valuable when studying such features, we believe that recording a broader range of information within this segment may be indispensable for identifying hidden elements involved in building and using pyrotechnology. The current paper aims to provide the basis for a complex foundation when documenting these types of experiments, by presenting new recording strategies applied over the years during the experimental archaeology program carried out at Sultana-Malu Roșu (Romania). In the following study we will discuss in detail the whole package regarding constructive, material, quantitative, labor, temporal and thermal data, we rely on in our work. Also, we will highlight the benefits of using this type of approach and how by correlating archaeological and experimental data one can reveal some of the hidden aspects concerning know-how, decision making, skills and effort involved in making and using such structures. Ultimately, this type of informational spectrum has the great potential of improving data collection during experiments and increase our possibilities of understanding the overall construction/use processes of pottery combustion structures, during different chronological periods.