Tsetlin Y., Volkova H. Constructive Features and Development of Pottery Ovens (Based on the Ethnographical Data from Africa and Eurasia)
Yuri Tsetlin
Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Moscow, Russian Federation
ORCID: 0000-0001-9386-4649
E-mail: yu.tsetlin@mail.ru
Helena Volkova
Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Moscow, Russian Federation
ORCID: 0000-0003-0278-0998
E-mail: volk_h@mail.ru
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ABSTRACT. Ethnographic data are one of the most important bases for the interpretation of various archaeological finds. They help to understand the function of such finds, preserved on the ancient sites, and determine its place in human history. The paper is dedicated to the study of the pottery ovens on the basis of ethnographic data from Africa, Pakistan, India and other regions and to the identification of patterns of their development. Pottery ovens belong to the second stage of the development of the pottery firing devices. As a result of the detailed review and analysis of the main ethnographic literature containing descriptions of such pottery firing devices, the authors made a reconstruction of both theoretically possible variants of the ovens’ constructions and those of them that were used by the potters not long ago. In addition, the predominant connection between various designs of ovens and the economic forms of pottery production has been determined. In conclusion, the authors describe the main stages of the constructive development of the ground and the above-ground types of the firing ovens.
KEYWORDS: ethnography, pottery firing, ground ovens, above-ground ovens, cultural traditions, development of the ovens
DOI 10.31250/2618-8619-2022-4(18)-253-273
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