Beyond Technology: Pottery Reveals Translocal Social Relations at a Bell Beaker Monumental Site in Central Europe

• DOI: 10.1017/eaa.2022.46
• Publication Date: 2022-12-01T08:45:05Z
• Authors: Adam Gašpar; Jan Petřík; Pavel Fojtík; Anna Tsoupra; Basira Mir-Makhamad; Ana Cardoso; Massimo Beltrame; José Mirão; Nick Schiavon; Jan Kolář
• Keywords: Beaker; White (mutation)

The Bell Beaker site near Brodek u Prostějova (Czechia) has yielded remains of a large timber construction accompanied by four symmetrical ritual deposits with numerous artefacts, including more than fifty ceramic vessels. Their decoration consists incised patterns, in nineteen cases preserved white inlaid incrustations. To investigate the social relations at this extraordinary site, multi-analytical and micro-destructive approach was employed to determine provenance technology pottery composition results indicate various origins for within region presence extra-regional fabrics graphitic temper. main raw materials inlays were calcium carbonate (calcite), hydroxyapatite (bone), bright clay. mixing decorative motifs variation shape size beakers suggest unique manufacturing processes. These lend support monumental serving as place several communities from both local wider areas.