2001/12/01 by O. Stilborg · 9 citations
Arts and Humanities · Computer Science · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Historical and Archaeological Studies #Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Pottery #Craft #Tempering #Chaff #Prehistory #Archaeology #History #Metallurgy #Materials science
paper · doi:10.1177/146195710100400316
published in European Journal of Archaeology 4(3), 398-404 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2001/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Temper is an essential element in pottery making in many parts of the world and in large parts of prehistory. Furthermore, it readily lends itself to qualitative and quantitative study without advanced equipment. Since all non-plastic materials in theory may be used as temper, variations in the choice of type and quality (amount, grain size) are important indications of craft traditions, functional differences and contacts between different areas. Even other, more elusive considerations might lie behind the choice of temper. Like the bride who should wear something new, something old, something borrowed and something blue, the tempering of pottery may include materials which allude to other objects or situations, thus establishing a coherence between the pot and other phenomena. Some new examples of special tempering with bone and chaff in pottery from the Iron Age in Scandinavia are presented for discussion.