Evolution of Pottery

Ice Age 2 million years ago to 10,000 years ago

Man evolved from apelike to near human.

The Goddess of Dolni Vestonice, 23,000 BC , Czech Republic Ancient potters made goddesses and animal figurines. Clay objects have been found in *Czech Republic *Japan *Siberia. The Goddess of Dolni Vestonice, 23,000 BC , Czech Republic

10,000 BC – 7000 BC Middle Stone Age Man was. living in villages 10,000 BC – 7000 BC Middle Stone Age Man was *living in villages *cultivating wheat and barley *herding cattle, sheep and goats *making stone tools

Man was becoming civilized. Pottery production began. year 14,000 BC Man was becoming civilized. Pottery production began. *year 14,000 BC *Jomon Culture, Japan *semi-nomadic *people lived in caves, pit dwellings Jomon pot for food storage

ancient Jomon site Sannai Maruyama, Japan ancient Jomon site Sannai Maruyama, Japan *700 pit-dwellings, 11 long-houses *120 raised floor buildings *380 adult grave pits *three clusters of clay mining pits *three road ways built of tamped earth *two large midden mounds

New Stone Age 8000 BC- 1500 BC. Man was using stone tools New Stone Age 8000 BC- 1500 BC *Man was using stone tools *living in settled villages *domesticating plants and animals

New Stone Age 5000 BC Middle East. Irrigation first practiced New Stone Age 5000 BC Middle East *Irrigation first practiced *Settlements developed in Turkey, Iran and Iraq

Middle East potters:. coiled long rolls of clay on top of a flat base Middle East potters: *coiled long rolls of clay on top of a flat base *paddled to shape the pots *Slip applied and burnished to attain a smooth surface *Some potters carved designs *others pressed designs in simple patterns

4500 BC Middle East. potters controlled the amount of oxygen in a kiln 4500 BC Middle East *potters controlled the amount of oxygen in a kiln *Increased oxygen caused a red coat on pots *Decreased oxygen caused a black coat

Spouted Vessel in the form of a stag. Ceramic, lightly burnished, reduction fired. 12” tall, 6” wide, 11” long. Made in Iran.

4000 BC First cities in the Middle east 4000 BC First cities in the Middle east *Cities were built using clay bricks *clay tablets used to chronicle city records, agriculture and trade information. *Molds invented to increase pottery production

New Stone Age 3000 BC First Pottery made in South America  Archaeologists excavate an ancient Peruvian burial site.

Ancient city of Caral Peru discovered, 2001. *20 cities with huge pyramids *sunken plazas sprawled over three river valleys *cities flourished peacefully for more than 1,200 years.

2700 BC First glaze was developed in Egypt. called Faience 2700 BC First glaze was developed in Egypt *called Faience *crushed quartz mixed with soda and calcium salts *blue-colored surface glaze when fired

2655 BC Banshan Culture, China. potters made coil pots 2655 BC Banshan Culture, China *potters made coil pots *pots were painted with red/black pigments *spiral patterns

2500 BC Wheel Throwing invented in China (Ms Baker) 

2500-1100 BC Minoan Culture, Crete (island in Mediterranean Sea, part of Greece) *pots were decorated with designs of marine life and plants *traded pottery vessels filled with oil and wine for tin, copper and luxury goods

Bronze Age 3000- 1500 BC. Changes in climate in Russia and China Bronze Age 3000- 1500 BC *Changes in climate in Russia and China *massive migration westward (Europe, Vietnam, Thailand) *Bronze tools replaced stone tools (bronze is a metal alloy of copper and tin) *then iron tools replaced bronze tools

1600-1100 BC Shang Dynasty, China 1600-1100 BC Shang Dynasty, China *developed sophisticated casting techniques *fired clay molds used to cast fancy bronze vessels

Next: Evolution #2