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sliceoflife90 · 6 months

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Neolithic pottery

Neolithic Pottery: Unveiling the Revolution

The discovery of pottery, a revolutionary innovation of the Neolithic era, remains shrouded in the mysteries of ancient times.

Serendipitous Transformation: From Clay to Stone

It is believed that Neolithic communities stumbled upon an extraordinary discovery by chance: the transformation of clay into a stone-like substance when exposed to the heat of fire.

Though the exact circumstances of this discovery remain unknown, what is certain is that this material quickly spread across Europe, enabling the creation of objects impossible to shape with stone.

Evolution of the Ceramics Creation Process

The evolution of the ceramics creation process is fascinating. The soft mixture, molded into vase shapes and left to air dry, was subsequently subjected to firing in a specially designed kiln.

From Trench to Dome Oven: Structural Innovations

This kiln, initially a simple trench with a fire at the center and vases arranged at the sides, transformed over time into a raised dome-shaped structure capable of reaching high temperatures and maintaining heat for an extended period.

The Miracle of Firing: From Clay to Ceramics

Through this process, clay transformed into the marvel that is ceramics or terracotta, taking on a vibrant reddish hue after firing.

From "Coiling" Technique to the Potter's Wheel: Turning Point in Vessel Formation

The oldest method, known as "coiling," involved creating a clay cylinder rolled to form the base of the vessel, later shaped by hand.

However, this technique produced vessels with thick and irregular walls. The turning point towards creating thinner and more symmetrical vessels only came with the invention of the potter's wheel, attributed to the Sumerians around 3000 BCE.

From "Cardial Ware" to Painting: Evolution of Decorations

Ancient craftsmen adorned their early vessels by impressing marks on fresh clay, often using small shell-like cardium shells, hence the term "cardial ware."

Over time, decorations became more intricate, including geometric patterns such as triangles, spirals, straight or wavy lines.

Artistic Expression: Painting on Vessels

The art of decoration further evolved with the introduction of painting, applying natural pigments mixed with animal fats to the still-fresh vessel.

This progression marked a significant chapter in the history of ceramics, making it not only functional but also an artistic expression of extraordinary beauty.

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sliceoflife90 · 6 months

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The Neolithic

The term Neolithic, derived from the Greek words "neo" (new) and "lithos" (stone), indicates the era in which humanity perfected the art of working stone, giving it a smooth surface. This phase began approximately 8,000 years ago and concluded about 5,000 years ago.

Transformation Engines: Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

The transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic was primarily driven by the discovery of agriculture and animal husbandry. These two pillars transformed humans from nomads to sedentary beings, marking the beginning of community life.

Mesolithic: The Transitional Age

The Mesolithic, known as the middle stone age, served as a bridge between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic, characterized by a gradual shift in human lifestyles.

Neolithic Architecture: From Huts to Stilt Houses

While in the Paleolithic, dwellings consisted of caves and rudimentary huts, the Neolithic witnessed the construction of the first structured houses. Houses, made with wooden beams and clay and straw bricks, featured a single large central room, often equipped with a hearth.

Over time, to defend against enemies and fierce animals, humans developed stilt houses, huts built on stilts driven into lakes or marshes, connected to the mainland by walkways.

Neolithic Village Organization: From Field to Community

Neolithic villages were located near watercourses and included houses, ovens, granaries, and other essential elements. Village inhabitants specialized in specific tasks, with women dedicated to weaving and leatherworking, while men engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.

Social Structure: Clans, Tribes, and Communities

Families within the village formed clans, each with an elder as its leader. Decisions involving the entire village were made by gathering the heads of families. The need to live in groups led to the creation of shared rules, giving rise to cohesive communities with common language, habits, and rules.

Exploring New Horizons: Art, Trade, and Spirituality

With the development of agriculture and animal husbandry, the Neolithic human perfected the art of working stone and metals, giving rise to advanced tools. Ceramics, craftsmanship, and early forms of trade flourished, paving the way for new artistic expressions and the construction of monuments dedicated to divine worship.

In conclusion, the Neolithic is not just the era of new stone but represents a crucial chapter in human history, marked by the transformation of lifestyles and the emergence of complex societies.

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sliceoflife90 · 6 months

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Prehistory

Introduction: Prehistory is a period that spans the long timeframe from the appearance of humans on Earth, approximately 4.5 million years ago, to the revolutionary invention of writing around 5000 years ago. This moment marks the transition from prehistory to documented history.

Content: The first artifacts created by humanity date back to just under 2 million years ago, marking the beginning of the Stone Age, one of the main phases of Prehistory. This extended era can be divided into several distinct phases:

Paleolithic (1,800,000 – 10,000 B.C.): During this period, our hunter-gatherer ancestors developed essential survival skills, such as crafting tools from stone, wood, and bone. Their rock art and nomadic lifestyle characterize this phase.

Mesolithic (8,000 – 6,000 B.C.): This phase marked a step towards sedentism and the transition to more advanced agricultural and harvesting societies. Humans began refining their skills in stone processing and hunting, while fishing became an important food source.

Neolithic (6,000 – 4,000 B.C.): During this phase, agriculture and animal domestication became fundamental practices, leading to stable communities and settlement in villages. The production of pottery and the use of metal tools began to emerge, contributing to increasing social complexity.

Metal Ages (4,000 – 500 B.C.): This phase marks the transition from prehistory to recorded history, as human communities began using metals such as copper, bronze, and finally iron for the manufacturing of weapons, tools, and ornaments. This period is characterized by significant technological developments and the growth of early civilizations.

Conclusion: Prehistory is a fascinating chapter in human history, where the evolution of human skills, adaptation to the environment, and the formation of early cultures offer us a window into our ancient past before the era of writing.

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Megalithic Constructions

In the final phase of the Neolithic and the subsequent Eneolithic period, a remarkable development of megalithic constructions emerged, a term derived from the Greek ("mégas" for large and "lithòs" for stone). These imposing structures, largely dedicated to worship and collective burials, bear witness to the ingenuity and spirituality of ancient civilizations.

Menhir: Towering Monuments of Symbolic Meaning

Menhirs, derived from Breton ("men" for stone and "hir" for long), are tall monoliths driven into the ground, often marking burial sites. Their height, ranging from 2-3 meters to 6 meters, can reach extraordinary peaks, as highlighted by the Breton menhirs of Kerloas and Locmariaquer. These monoliths can be isolated or arranged in straight or circular alignments, often oriented in precise astronomical directions. In Carnac, Brittany, a complex of about 3000 menhirs extends in parallel rows, oriented westward, creating a captivating panorama over a kilometer long.

Dolmen: Innovative Trilithic System in Funerary Architecture

The dolmen, derived from Breton ("doul" or "tol" for table and "men" for stone), constitutes a form of funerary architecture. Composed of two or more stone blocks driven into the ground, surmounted by a horizontal slab, this trilithic construction system represents mankind's first use in this regard. The dolmen, primarily sepulchral, can be an individual or collective tomb, often characterized by an access corridor. Initially covered by stone or earth tumuli, the oldest dolmens in Italy are found in Sardinia, Apulia, and the Alpine region for the Copper Age.

Cromlech: Concentric Monuments of Astronomical Significance

Cromlechs, derived from Breton ("crom" for round and "lech" for stone), represent the monumental application of the trilithic system. These consist of series of dolmens arranged in concentric circular figures. Widespread in Neolithic and Eneolithic Europe, cromlechs originally served to define the lunar cycle, later adapting to indicate the movement of the Sun and the progression of seasons. In addition to their practical utility, these sites were spaces for collective ceremonies, including funeral, agricultural, and fertility rites.

Allée Couverte: Collective Funerary Constructions in France

Another application of the dolmen, particularly common in France, is the Allée couverte ("covered alley"). These collective funerary constructions are composed of stone slabs supported by vertical structures or dry-stone walls, sometimes reaching considerable dimensions. A notable example is the Allée couverte du Mougau, erected between the end of the Neolithic and the beginning of the Eneolithic, which stands out for the presence of engravings. The structure, 14 meters long, has a north-south orientation, with a northern entrance and a chamber at the southern end, likely preceded by a vestibule.

In Conclusion

Megalithic constructions bear witness to the rich cultural and religious landscape of ancient civilizations, offering a detailed look into how these communities conceived the world and the divine.

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