Ceramic manufacturing techniques and cultural traditions in Nubia from the 8th to the 3rd millennium BC : examples from Sai Island / Giulia D'Ercole.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

D'Ercole, Giulia, author.

Series:

Cambridge monographs in African archaeology (Archaeopress) ; Volume 96.

Cambridge Monographs in African Archaeology ; Volume 96

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pottery, Ancient--Nubia.

Pottery, Ancient.

Pottery, Ancient--Sudan--Sai Island.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (210 pages)

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Archaeopress Publishing, [2017]

Summary:

This book presents a comprehensive critical analysis of diverse ceramic assemblages from Sai Island, in the Middle Nile Valley of Northern Sudan, on the border between ancient Upper and Lower Nubia. The assemblages included in this study cover about five millennia, spanning the period c. 8000 to c. 2500 BC.

Contents:

Cover

Copyright Information

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The invention of pottery and the cultural significance of ceramic discovery

Sai Island in northern Upper Nubia (northern Sudan)

Methodological approach and research questions: style, traditions and change

Structure of the research

1. Nubia and its cultural sequences between the 8th and the 3rd millennium BC: Khartoum Variant, Abkan and Pre-Kerma

Climate, environmental conditions and human occupation during the Early Holocene along the Nile Valley and in the Egyptian Western Desert

The Khartoum Variant culture: definition, chronology and settlements

Khartoum Variant sites in the region of Abka - Wadi Halfa (Lower Nubia)

Khartoum Variant sites at Sai Island (northern Upper Nubia)

Climate, environmental conditions and human occupation during the Middle Holocene along the Nile Valley and in the Egyptian Western Desert

Abkan sites in the region of Abka − Wadi Halfa (Lower Nubia)

The Abkan culture: definition, chronology and settlements

Abkan sites at Sai Island (northern Upper Nubia)

Climate, environmental conditions and human occupation during the Late Holocene along the Nile Valley and in the Egyptian Western Desert

The Pre-Kerma culture: definition, chronology and settlements

Pre-Kerma sites at Kerma (Upper Nubia)

Pre-Kerma sites at Sai Island (northern Upper Nubia)

Figure 1.1 Is a synopsis of the chronological sequences during the Holocene in the regions of Egypt and Sudan mentioned in the text (figure by G. D'Ercole).

Figure 1.2 Map of Egypt and Sudan during the Early Holocene (c. 8000−5000 BC) with geographical features and sites cited in the text (figure by G. D'Ercole).

Table 1.1 Radiocarbon dates from Khartoum Variant (KV) and Shamarkian (SHK) sites in the Abka-Wadi Halfa region (Lower Nubia). Calibrations were obtained by the author using OxCal v. 4.2.4 Bronk Ramsey (2013)

IntCal13 atmospheric curve (Reimer et al. 201

Table 1.2 Radiocarbon dates from Khartoum Variant (KV) sites on Sai Island (northern Upper Nubia). Calibrations in Garcea et al. (2016a) based on Riemer et al. (2013).

Table 1.3 Radiocarbon dates from Early Neolithic (El Nabta/Al Jerar phases) sites in the Nabta-Kiseiba region (Western Desert). When more dates were available, for each period/site is provided the oldest and the youngest date. Calibrations were obtained b

Table 1.4 Radiocarbon dates from Mesolithic sites in the Kerma region (Upper Nubia). When more dates were available, for each period is provided the oldest and the youngest date. Calibrations in Honegger and Williams (2015) based on Riemer et al. (2013).

Figure 1.3 Map of Egypt and Sudan during the Middle Holocene (c. 5000−3500 BC) with geographical features and sites cited in the text (figure by G. D'Ercole).

Table 1.5 Radiocarbon dates from Abkan (ABK) and Post-Shamarkian (Post-SHK) sites in the Abka-Wadi Halfa region (Lower Nubia). When more dates were available, for each site is provided the oldest and the youngest date. Calibrations were obtained by the au

Table 1.6 Radiocarbon dates from Abkan (ABK) sites on Sai Island (northern Upper Nubia). Calibrations in Garcea et al. (2016a) based on Riemer et al. (2013).

Table 1.7 Radiocarbon dates from Early Nubian sites in the Laqiya region (Northwest Sudan). When more dates were available, for each site is provided the oldest and the youngest date. Calibrations in Lange and Nordström (2006).

Table 1.8 Radiocarbon dates from Middle and Late Neolithic (El Ghanam, Ru'at El Baqar phases) sites in the Nabta-Kiseiba region (Western Desert). When more dates were available, for each period/site is provided the oldest and the youngest date. Calibratio

Table 1.9 Radiocarbon dates from Neolithic sites in the Kerma region (Upper Nubia). When more dates were available, for each period is provided the oldest and the youngest date. Calibrations in Honegger and Williams (2015) based on Riemer et al. (2013).

Figure 1.4 Map of Egypt and Sudan during the Late Holocene (c. 3500−2500 BC) with geographical features and sites cited in the text (figure by G. D'Ercole).

Table 1.10 Radiocarbon dates from Pre-Kerma (PK)/Kerma sites in the Kerma region (Upper Nubia). When more dates were available, for each period is provided the oldest and the youngest date. Calibrations in Honegger and Williams (2015) based on Riemer et a

Table 1.11 Radiocarbon dates from Pre-Kerma (PK)/Kerma sites on Sai Island (northern Upper Nubia). Calibrations in Hildebrand and Schilling (2016) by OxCal v. 4.2.4 Bronk Ramsey (2013)

IntCal13 atmospheric curve (Reimer et al. 2013).

Table 1.12 Radiocarbon dates from A-Groups sites in the Laqiya region (Northwest Sudan). Calibrations in Lange (2003).

2. Sai Island: archaeological research and cultural sequence

Geological setting and paleo-climatic reconstruction

The archaeological sites on the island

Selected sites

Site 8-B-10C

Site 8-B-76

Site 8-B-10A

Figure 2.1 Geographical location of Sai Island and schematic geological and morphological map of northern Sudan (modified after D'Ercole et al. 2015).

Figure 2.2 Geological map of Sai Island with the location of the four sites from which it comes the pottery sample (modified after D'Ercole et al. 2015).

Figure 2.3 View of the interior landscape of Sai Island with the profile of the Jebel Abri in the background (photo by G. D'Ercole).

Figure 2.4 View of the western riverbank of Sai Island with young alluvial sediments and typical riverine vegetation (photo by G. D'Ercole)

Figure 2.5 Excavation at site 8-B-10C (photo by R. Ceccacci).

Figure 2.6 Plan of levels 1 (on the left) and 2 (on the right) of site 8-B-10C showing hut floors, features and post holes (modified after Garcea 2011−2012).

Figure 2.7 Excavation at site 8-B-76 (photo by E. A. A. Garcea).

Figure 2.8 Estimated extension of site 8-B-52A (on the left) and schematic map (on the right) showing the three silos from which it comes the ceramic sample analysed (map modified after Hildebrand and Shilling 2016).

Figure 2.9 Site 8-B-52A: detail of a 'two level units' pit with the slab of schist used to seal the opening of the pit (photo by G. D'Ercole).

Figure 2.10 Excavation at site 8-B-10A (photo by R. Ceccacci).

3. Ceramic productions on Sai Island:

Table 3.1 Distribution of classifiable and unclassifiable sherds according to the sites.

analysis of the macroscopic data

Materials and methods

State of preservation

Preparation: clay processing and addition of non-plastic inclusions

Production: decoration techniques, implements, elements, motifs and structure of the decoration

Production: shaping

Production: surface treatment

Spatial distribution

Production: decoration techniques, implements, elements, motifs and the structure of the decoration and surface treatment

Site 8-B-52A

Production: shaping.

Production: decoration techniques, implements, elements, motifs and structure of the decoration

Preparation: clay processing and addition of non-plastic components

Production: decoration techniques, implements, elements, motifs and structure of decoration

Table 3.2 Stratigraphic distribution of classifiable and unclassifiable sherds from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.3 Stratigraphic distribution of types of inclusions from site 8-B-10C.

Figure 3.1 Angularity of mineral inclusions from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.4 Frequency, sphericity and angularity of inclusions from site 8-B-10C.

Figure 3.2 Distribution of angular and rounded inclusions in relation to the different types of textures form site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.5 Stratigraphic distribution of types of textures from site 8-B-10C.

Figure 3.3 Distribution of mineral and organic inclusions in relation to the different types of textures from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.6 Stratigraphic distribution of body parts of the vessel from site 8-B-10C.

Figure 3.4 Sherd thicknesses from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.7 Stratigraphic distribution of decorated and undecorated sherds from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.8 Stratigraphic distribution of decorative techniques from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.9 Stratigraphic distribution of tools used for rocker stamping from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.10 Stratigraphic distribution of tools and decorative motifs from site 8-B-10C.

Figure 3.5 Ranges of the lengths of decorative motifs from site 8-B-10C (minimum, maximum and average).

Figure 3.6 Ranges of the teeth numbers of combs with evenly serrated edges from site 8-B-10C (minimum, maximum and average).

Figure 3.7 Percentages of burnishing from site 8-B-10C.

Table 3.11 Stratigraphic distribution of decorative structures from site 8-B-10C.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-78491-672-2

OCLC:

1240294880