Publication details
Emergence of high medieval pottery in Czech lands – analyses of kiln batches
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| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | The paper presents an analysis of pottery assemblages recovered from kiln contexts dated between AD 1250 and 1400, a period marked by significant technological and social transformation in Central Europe. These changes include the adoption of pottery kilns, the use of rotational kinetic energy in vessel forming, and the professionalisation of pottery production. The study draws on material from 11 kilns located across the Czech lands and Lower Austria, allowing for inter-regional comparison. The assemblages were examined through macroscopic analysis, with a strong focus on forming and firing traces, complemented by a suite of archaeometric methods, including ceramic petrography, 3D analysis, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Extensive experimental pottery production and firing was also integrated into the research design to contextualise and interpret the archaeological observations. The results document a shift from relatively simple pottery production towards controlled kiln firing and the emergence of thin-walled, smoke-fired wares which in some regions persisted until the early 1900s. The research outcomes are synthesised in an English-language monograph, funded by the Czech Science Foundation (GA23-07863S). |