Salt, clay, and society: Towards a reconstruction of salt-making
chaînes opératoires
in the Bronze and Early Iron Age in the Kraków–Wieliczka salt-bearing region
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The progress of field research and studies of archaeological sites from southern Poland (Małopolska) and experimental activities related to salt-making in the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age in the last two decades have created conditions for attempting to recreate the chaîne opératoire of this branch of prehistoric production. The use of ceramic containers for evaporating brine and drying and portioning salt means that we are dealing with two operational sequences (production of ceramics and salt) intertwined at some stage – from obtaining raw materials (clay and brine) to the distribution of transportable product and discarding of disposable containers. We conducted multi-aspect studies on the characteristics of materials related to each stage, including their spatial location, based on all available material from western Małopolska, in particular several large-scale benchmark sites (Podłęże 17, Brzezie 17 and Kraków-Bieżanów 11). This allowed us to identify certain differences in production sites. A comprehensive review of the source database also allowed us to establish a rather limited scope of both the degree of craft specialisation of the brewers and the scale of the centre’s influence. Nevertheless, in some periods, as in the beginning of the Urnfield period, this centre gained supra-regional importance, as evidenced by, among others, certificates of weight standardization of finished products.
期刊介绍:
The Praehistorische Zeitschrift is regarded as one of the most renowned German publications in the area of Prehistory and Ancient History. In keeping with its traditional mission, it presents detailed accounts of the most recent research conducted in Europe. The geographical emphasis is placed on Eastern, South-Eastern and Northern Central Europe. A comprehensive review section deals with recent German and international monographs from the field of prehistoric archaeology. Contributions are published in German, English or French, with a brief abstract in the other two languages; if necessary, a summary is provided in the author"s native language.