dr. D. (Delia) Carloni, PhD

ASSESSING THE FUNCTION OF CERAMIC CONTAINERS TO INVESTIGATE THE HUMAN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE‘DARK ZONES’OF CAVES

The case of the Early Copper Age (3700-3300 BC) pottery from Grotta Inferiore di Sant’Angelo (Cassano allo Ionio, Italy)

Archaeological sites in CAVES AND CAVERNS testify to the engagement of past societies with the underground realm. The ‘dark zones’ of the caves in particular, pervaded by the deep darkness, were often used as places for religious-related activities, which frequently consisted in the abandonment of offerings in a pottery recipient. This research proposal, to be realized at the University of Groningen (Netherlands) and Università del Salento aims to explore the INFORMATION POTENTIAL OF CERAMIC CONTAINERS ABANDONED IN CAVES, giving the example of the Early Copper Age (3700-3300 BC) deposit of GROTTA INFERIORE DI SANT’ANGELO (Cassano allo Ionio, Italy), which may have resulted from cultic activities.

The research is composed of three phases:

PHASE 1-TAPHONOMY: Analysis of the spatialdistribution of the potsherds.

PHASE 2-VESSELS’FUNCTION: Assessment of the vessels’ function by means of (2a) typology, (2b) petrography, (2c) traceology, and (2d) residue.

PHASE 3-CONTEXTUALIZATION: Critical discussion of data in regard to cave spatiality and physicality and broader economic, social, and symbolic dimensions of Early Copper Age communities in the region. Acquired data will provide INSIGHTS INTO THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE 4TH MILLENNIUM BCCOMMUNITIES WITH THE UNDERGROUND SPACES. The proposed pilot study will provide a new, different, angle for cave archaeology that draws attention to the function of the ceramic containers introduced in spaces pervaded by deep darkness. Hence, this study will advance the broader research on the social functioning of prehistoric societies.

In collaboration with Prof. Peter A.J. Attema, Dr. Felice Larocca, and Prof. Giuseppe E. De Benedetto