Pottery
Neolith that is a younger Stone Age was the part of the history of human development, when the first "durable" vessels appeared. They were no longer weaved from the browse of roots and branches or sewn from bark and leather but from an inorganic and more durable material such as clay.
Technology of fired ceramic vessels had its origin in the centre of Middle East. It became common there about 8000 years ago. The first vessels had a simple form, imitating vessels from organic materials (buckets, skins), designs were derived also from the shapes of vegetables, fruit and even flowers. The beauty of nature was preserved in different clay forms. This ability evolved and led to improvement of those forms.
New material was not indestructible, it often cracked and leaked. Man, as a clever creature aspiring to simplify his life, created by means of trial and error method few ways to prevent occurring disadvantages. The cracks in forms were sealed by means of fat milk (boiled several times). This is one way of sealing pottery, used in neolith and later on. Broken handles were glued by means of natural binders, the glues of Neolith – resin and tar wood.
Wrongly fired forms, that had design faults in the form of large cracks or damages in walls, could be repaired in an innovative way. It could be filling in gaps with fresh clay and then protecting it with thick leather, preferably bovine, earlier soaked in water. Properly cut out leather, fitted and fixed to a particular form of defective vessel, strengthened and stabilized the structure of walls. After drying off the leather adjusted to the shape of the vessels. The leather hardens and darkens by heating it over the hearth. It is important to keep a right distance between a vessel and flames. Direct contact of leather with flames can cause its burning. Leather which is burnt a little, blackens and with time it falls apart. The technique of filling in gaps with fresh clay could be used so as to protect not damaged pottery. Leather is a great thermal insulator, protecting vessels from a sudden temperature jump.
Leather vessels could be used to prepare warm food. These vessels were light and relatively durable and consequently the best for long journey. We can still make use of vast knowledge of people from paleolith.
Vase from Funnel Beaker Culture with ansa lunata handle
Incrustation
Were such Trypillian valuables known in Ćmielów and Gródek?
A bottom of utensil
A handle of ansa lunata FBC type with a noticeable attempt of fixing with wood tar
Milk – used for sealing in the Early Stone Age
An attempt to repair and strenghten a broken vessel
Different types of clay ram’s heads and handles ansa lunata
Clay axes – eneolithic children’s toys – imitation of battleaxes
Spindle whorls
Chosen forms of Funnel Beaker Culture vessels
Specific ornamentation of an utensil
"Pseudo rams" – an easier way of presenting ram’s head
The tools used for producing a clay utensil – a truelle and a stamp
Two basic ways of finishing the surface of utensil
Ornament made with a wooden stamp
