Balka Kantserka: technological aspects of pottery production

Abstract

In the paper, the technological aspects of the pottery production at the Balka Kantserka settlement are considered. In particular, the reconstruction of the process of manufacturing of three-handed gray-ware jars which were mass-produced at the settlement is carried out. They were constructed from separately manufactured parts: body, neck, handles and spout. At the same time, in some cases, handles and knob-shaped decorative elements were attached to already dried and even decorated vessels. The presence of different types of the same structural parts, decorative elements and their technical solutions indicates that the jars were not made by one craftsman, but by a group of craftsmen who had different skills and tastes. The fact that the vessels of different masters were found in a complex associated with one particular kiln indicates that it was used simultaneously by a group of potters. For other technological groups (hand-built pottery, amphorae and fragments with individual technological features), it was possible to reliably determine only the composition of the paste. It was found out that the hand-built pottery at the settlement are represented by five recipes, of which at least three can be associated with the Penkivska culture, which surrounded Balka Kantserka. Fragments of amphorae are characterised by a natural admixture that made up to 1/5 of limestone and about 1/7 of sand. As for the recipes represented by individual fragments, it is difficult to interpret them for sure at the moment. The fact that the ceramic complex obtained by the excavations does not contain physically or archaeologically complete vessels, currently makes it difficult to quantify the types of structural elements of the vessels and their decoration, which would allow judging the possible number of potters who used the kiln.