An Experimental Approach to Understanding Bronze Age Pottery Using Case Studies from Cumbria and Wiltshire

Abstract

The Bronze Age needs continued study, particularly the pottery. This thesis uses experimental approaches to understand the construction and function of vessels and the people using the vessels. Using a comparative approach between experimental assemblages and a range of original pottery from the two case study regions of Cumbria (less studied region) and Wiltshire (a more studied region), to understand patterns of function and identity. Experiments were conducted to explore the construction, use and deposition of four common Bronze Age vessel forms. The construction of the pottery explores the time, resources and skills needed to make the vessels. While the use wear experiments look at the storage of constructed pots, the function of the pots as storage vessels, particularly the use of lids and signs wear on bases. It also considers the effects of weathering and of deposition on a vessel through long term experiments. Many of the experiments were conducted over several months to better replicate hypothesised use. The data was explored within the broader context of the Bronze Age and what that can reveal about the people making and using the pottery. The patterns of wear seen during the experiments also occur on experiential and original pottery. Different degrees of production and use wear can be seen across burials, sites and regions indicating a broad function of vessels in Britain. Understanding function helps with our understanding of the Bronze Age people and how they viewed and interacted with their everyday items. This thesis gives insight into Bronze Age pottery in the case study regions and the broader period when unglazed vessels were being made, used, and deposited.