Since the earliest use of pottery, vessels have been associated with both the general shape and specific parts of the human body. The production of human-shaped pottery might be understood as one element of the spectrum of figural art in prehistoric communities. The idea of studying anthropomorphic pottery and the return of human beings into a body made of clay, which forms the core theme of this collection of 12 papers, stems from work on anthropomorphic features of Neolithic communities between the Near East and Europe. Contributors are engaged in questions about the analysis of human features and characteristics on vessels, their occurrence, function and disposal. Beginning with the European Neolithic and moving on through the Bronze and Iron Ages, papers focus on diachronic archaeological patterns and contexts as well as on the theoretical background of this particular type of container in order to shed light on similarities and differences through the ages and to understand possibilities and limits of interpretation.

About the Author
Heiner Schwarzberg is head of the Department of Prehistory of the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection in Munich. He specialises in the archaeology of Neolithic and Bronze Age communities and prehistoric cults and religion in Europe and Asia Minor. Valeska Becker is assistant professor at Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat, Munster, Germany. Her main research is in the Neolithic of central and southern Europe, prehistoric religion and human-animal studies.

Reviews
...the strongest point in the volume's contributions is the detailed presentation of factual data, accompanied by good quality and elucidating illustrations. * Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society *



Book Information
ISBN 9781785706967
Author Heiner Schwarzberg
Format Paperback
Page Count 160
Imprint Oxbow Books
Publisher Oxbow Books