This is the first of two detailed reports on the more than one million pieces of pottery (and three complete vessels) recovered from Franchthi Cave and Paralia. These accounts significantly increase our understanding of Neolithic pottery and society in southern Greece. The enormous amount of pottery and the detailed stratigraphic sequences at Franchthi have enabled Vitelli to propose finer chronological distinctions than ever before possible and to talk meaningfully about the people who made and used that pottery. Vitellis report describes a new classification system she developed for Aegean Neolithic ceramics that makes it possible to address questions about social and economic organization in Neolithic Greece. Part I of this volume explains the new classification system developed by Vitelli and its rationale, describes the analyses performed on the sherds, and describes and explains the establishing of ceramic phases within the stratigraphic record. Part II discusses in turn each of the ceramic subphases for the period covered by this volume (Early and Middle Neolithic). Part III contains detailed descriptions and analyses of the various classes of pottery found at the site. Part IV begins the task of assessing the implications of the analyses reported here.
Karen D. Vitelli is Director of the Franchthi project. She is the coeditor ofArchaeological Ethics(2006).
Foreword (T.W. Jacobsen)
Preface
Introduction
Part I Theory and Methods
Chapter One: The Ceramic Classification/Introduction/Rationale and Procedures/Ceramic Production at Franchthi/Terminology
Chapter Two: The Characterization Analyses
Chapter Three: The Ceramic Phasing/Procedures/The Ceramic Phases/The Ceramic Subphases/The Boundaries
Part II Excavation Contexts: FCP 7 and FCP 2
Chapter Four: Introduction
Chapter Five: Ceramic InterphalĂs