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The Ronaldsway Pottery of the Isle of Man: a Study of Production, Decoration, and Use

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Steve Burrow
Steve Burrow
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology & Numismatics, National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NP
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Abstract

The Late Neolithic pottery of the Isle of Man falls into two types: Ronaldsway and Grooved Ware. This paper focuses on the former style which is markedly different from other contemporaneous pottery styles in use in Britain and Ireland. The discussion draws upon the biographical history of Ronaldsway vessels from the choice of raw materials to the deposition of the finished pots. At each stage in this biographical history the approach adopted by Manx potters and pottery users is compared with that employed in surrounding parts of the British Isles.

Résumé

La céramique du néolithique tardif sur l'île de Man se divise en deux groupes: Ronaldsway et vases cannelés. Cette étude se concentre sur le premier style qui se distingue nettement des autres styles de poterie contemporains en usage en Grande-Bretagne et en Irlande. L'argumentation se base sur l'histoire biographique des vases Ronaldsway depuis le choix des matières premières jusqu'au dépôt des pièces terminées. A chaque stade de cette histoire biographique, on compare l’approche adoptée par les potiers et les utilisateurs de l'île de Man avec celle utilisée dans les régions environnantes des Iles Britanniques.

Zusammenfassung

Die spätneolithische Keramik der Isle of Man kann in zwei Typen unterteilt werden: die Ronaldsway-Ware und die ‚Furchen‘ Ware (Grooved Ware). Dieser Artikel behandelt den erstgenannten Stil, der sich deutlich von anderen in England und Irland gleichzeitig in Gebrauch stehenden Keramikstilen unterscheidet. Es wird dabei die biographische Geschichte von Ronaldsway-Gefäßen diskutiert, und zwar von der Wahl des Rohmaterials bis zur Niederlegung der fertiggestellten Gefäße. In jedem Abschnitt dieser biographischen Geschichte wird die Methode der Töpfer und Benutzer der Gefäße der Isle of Man mit der in den umliegenden Gebieten der Britischen Inseln angewandten verglichen.

Résumen

La cerámica del Neolítico Tardo de la Isla de Man puede clasificarse dentro de dos tipos: “Ronaldsway” y “Grooved Ware”. El siguiente estudio se centra en el primero de estos dos estilos, que es claramente distinto de otros tipos de cerámica contemporáneos en uso en Gran Bretaña e Irlanda durante este periodo. El debate hace uso de la biografía histórica de los vasos de cerámica Ronaldsway desde el momento de la elección de las materias primas hasta el de la deposición de los vasos acabados. En cada momento de esta historia biográfica se compara las actitudes adoptadas por los alfareros y usuarios de la cerámica en Manx con la adoptada en zonas circundantes de las Islas Británicas.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 65 , 1999 , pp. 125 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1999

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