Between the Hearth and the Store: Pottery Specialisation and Use in the Argaric Bronze Age Settlement of Peñalosa (Spain)

Juan Jesús Padilla Fernández; Eva Alarcón García; Alejandra García García; Luis Arboledas Martínez; Auxilio Moreno Onorato; Francisco Contreras Cortés; Linda Chapon

doi:10.4312/dp.47.17

Authors

Juan Jesús Padilla Fernández University of Salamanca, Faculty of Geography and History, Spain
Eva Alarcón García University of Granada, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Spain
Alejandra García García University of Granada, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Spain
Luis Arboledas Martínez University of Granada, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Spain
Auxilio Moreno Onorato University of Granada, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Spain
Francisco Contreras Cortés University of Granada, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Spain
Linda Chapon University of Granada, Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.47.17

Keywords:

pottery technology, cookware, storageware, domestic specialisation, maintenance activities

Abstract

Research into the Bronze Age on the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula has always occupied a pre-eminent position in the archaeological discipline. Although we can state that there is a certain degree of scientific unity regarding the main cultural features of that period, few studies have focused on the social and technological process involved in the manufacture of pottery vessels. This paper aims to remedy that situation. To do this, we provide the results obtained from the technical analysis of the pottery vessels used in two activities essential to human survival – food storage and processing – in the Bronze Age settlement of Peñalosa (2086–1450 cal BC). At the same time, the macroscopic identification of the technological patterns developed in the tasks of manufacturing earthenware jars and pots allows us to reflect on the significance of the concept of specialization in the Argar Culture.