Part-time Labor and Household Production: Emergence of Specialized Potters in the Late Neolithic Vinča (Serbia) and Late Eneolithic Vučedol (Croatia) Societies

Abstract

Social aspects of pottery production are the most intriguing issues in pottery studies. Potters themselves are, however, invisible in the archaeological record, and considerations about their position in the society and organization of their production, especially for prehistoric periods, is very challenging and meets many constraints and difficulties. Organization of pottery production in prehistoric communities, especially in the Balkans, was very rarely considered in the past. Recently, researchers increased their attention and interest in these aspects of prehistoric everyday life. It seems that during Late Neolithic and Eneolithic many changes occurred, leading to the emergence of more complex communities. Craftsmen and potters among them played a very important role in this shift in social relations. This paper aims to explore pottery production in the societies in which initial stages of craft specialization may be assumed. Although Late Neolithic Vinča and Late Eneolithic Vučedol communities had a different social organization, the results of the analyses revealed the same organization of pottery production.