Reassessing the prehistoric ceramics of the Late Neolithic and Transitional Chalcolithic periods in the Central Plateau of Iran:
Archaeometric Characterisation, Typological Classification and Stylistic Phylogenetic analyses

Abstract

This thesis introduce new approaches into the understanding of chronology and cultural-technological development of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlements within the Central Plateau of Iran through the study of the evolution of ceramic craft specialisation between ca. 5700-4800 BC by analysing newly excavated pottery from the different three areas of this region: the Tehran, Qazvin and Kashan plains. Despite having been
investigated for almost 90 years, the prehistoric ceramics of the Central Iranian Plateau have mainly been studied in a basic manner, based on the study of colour and decoration of pottery as the criteria to identify, characterise, and compare the various pottery types of the region with little attention to technology and production.
In the present thesis a multidisciplinary research method has been adopted by utilising scientific analysis technics such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as typological classification and more advanced methods such as phylogenetic analyses in studying and characterisation the pottery.
Based on the results of scientific analyses as well as the archaeological data this research will provide valuable information on the course of evolution and the origin of the changes observed in ceramic technology, and will determine the level of specialisation and standardisation in the pottery-making, as well as the mode of production in these prehistoric sites. Through comparison of the pottery characteristics from different sites of the same tradition it will also
assess the similarity of sources of raw materials and the techniques of shaping and firing the pottery. Utilising the valuable information gathered by the aforementioned methods this thesis represents a more comprehensive and reliable information concerning the economic and cultural connections and interactions of the prehistoric communities living in this region in the Late Neolithic and the Transitional Chalcolithic periods.