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Summary

Recent archaeological work on the Late Neolithic period in upper Mesopotamia (7000–5300 cal BC) shows that this was a period of profound socio-economic and ideological changes. What caused these changes? Did major changes coincide with the turn from the 7th to the 6th millennium? This chapter reviews interpretative approaches, some recent and some not so recent, focusing on the temporal dimensions of the changes observed. A major period of change may be identified somewhat before the millennial turn, around 6250 cal BC. This chapter argues that the role of material innovation as a causal agent for further, unintended socio-economic changes has been overlooked. Specifically, the chapter touches upon innovative storage technologies, the introduction of cooking pottery as a means for processing dairy products and the development of elaborately fashioned serving vessels in the later parts of the 7th millennium.

Lapita pottery, the herald of the settlement of the wider island Pacific, turns out to have been painted with lime and clay, to give a red and white finish over the decorated surface. The find of a pot in Vanuatu, its sherds in different states of deterioration showed why painted Lapita has previously gone unrecognised. The author suggests that it was widespread from 1000 BC and reminds us that pottery was painted in China 7000 years ago.

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Chapter 3 - Containers of Change

Summary

The Pacific's earliest painted pottery: an added layer of intrigue to the Lapita debate and beyond

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2 results

Chapter 3 - Containers of Change

Summary

The Pacific's earliest painted pottery: an added layer of intrigue to the Lapita debate and beyond