Organization of pottery production at the hormangan neolithic site: Archaeological evidence of craft specialization in southwestern Asia

Abstract

Research into pottery production typically emphasizes the study of pottery itself, with less attention given to the organization of pottery production within prehistoric communities. However, focusing on pottery production can be instrumental in unveiling the economic and social structures of these societies. In 2016, while conducting archaeological excavations at the Hormangan site in the Bavanat river basin, evidence of pottery production was unearthed. Initially, after digging through the surface layers of trench 3, we uncovered a heated structure. Further excavation revealed that this structure was associated with a pottery kiln located on the north side of the Neolithic village. The kiln had an early open plan, with various spaces partitioned by walls, each serving a specific function in the pottery production process. The kiln from Hormangan, dating back to 6150–6000 BCE, bears witness to the nascent stage of specialized pottery production. During Neolithic period societies were taking their first steps towards the complexities and specializations that would characterize later civilizations. The presence of this kiln, along with its associated structures, underscores the craft specialization within the Neolithic society of Hormangan in pottery production. Although the presence of kilns and workshop spaces in Hormangan indicates that pottery production exceeded the household level, aimed at fulfilling more than just a single family's needs, the scarcity of archaeological findings prevents a comprehensive analysis of the organization of pottery production in Neolithic Fars society. The transition from household production to a semi-industrial level, as evidenced by the presence of the workshop and open kiln, signifies an evolution in pottery production and likely points to the existence of surplus pottery production. The archeological evidence obtained show that the societies of southern Iran as a part of southwest Asia in the 7th millennium BCE have taken a step towards specialization and trade and we are witnessing social complexity in Neolithic period.