Potter’s Reactions to Local Demands

From the 8th century B.C. onwards, Greeks and Phoenicians in the course of the so - called "Greek Colonisation" set out to establish new settlements along the coasts of Sicily and southern Italy. This had lasting effects on the local communities. After initial contacts with Greeks and Phoenicians living in the settlements along the shore, an exchange of goods and products as well as the transfer of fashions and practices took place. The new forms of cultural exchange and contact opened up new possibiliti es for the formation of local groups- and indigenous identities, accompanied by processes of social hierarchization and local power formation that had not been possible in the pre -contact period. These social processes of transformation are to be investigated by the project in the light of the reactions of local potters to new demands in indigenous communities. The starting point are three inland sites: Monte Iato in western Sicily as well as Ascoli Satriano and Ripacandida in southern Italy. Due to the varying ethno- and topographical conditions, the three indigenous settlements economically, socially and culturally differed considerabl y . Correspondingly, the processes of change have been diverse and led to contrasting reactions in the local pottery production. It is precisely these divergent dynamics and interdependencies between cultural contact, social change and local potters that will be analysed within the three indigenous settlement communities. Using a special geochemical method for determining the composition and origin of clay pastes used in the production of pottery - the so-called Neutron activation analysis - the first step is to determine the spectrum of the local pottery among all the vessel sherds found at the three sites. This will allow to determine which new vessel shapes for which new consumption needs had been incorporated into the traditional repertoires of the respe cti ve local pottery production. Which new technologies were adopted from the Greek and Phoenician coastal cities? In a second step, on the basis of archaeological context and cultural analysis, research will be undertaken into the old and new social milieus of the three indigenous communities in which these new pottery products were used in addition to the traditional vessels and for what specific purposes - which forms of new cultural habits are thus indicated in interaction with which traditional customs? And what does this say about processes of social and cultural differentiation within the settlements? The answers to all these questions will be systematically compared among the three investigated sites. The aim is to establish the outlines of a new theory on the reactions of local potters in the process of the incorporation of indigenous societies into `colonial` contact zones.

From the 8th century BC onwards, the ancient Mediterranean experienced an ever-increasing interconnectedness similar to the effects of modern globalisation. These connections involved the transfer of goods, techniques and ideas adopted, modified or rejected to varying degrees by local communities. This project explored how the interaction between Greek and Phoenician cultural networks influenced the production of pottery and the social dynamics of indigenous communities in south-eastern Italy and western Sicily from the 7th to the 4th century BC. As a key cultural artefact, pottery provides unique insights into local traditions and how societies respond to external influences. Three archaeological sites with different social structures and varying degrees of integration into Mediterranean networks were studied: Monte Iato in western Sicily, Ascoli Satriano in northern Puglia, and Ripacandida in eastern Basilicata. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), a scientific method for identifying the chemical composition of ceramic pastes, was applied to around 600 pottery samples to establish patterns of local production over time. The results revealed significant differences in how local potters in these communities responded to external cultural influences and technological trends. At Monte Iato, located in a dynamic zone of Greek, Phoenician, and Indigenous interaction, pottery production was highly diverse by the 6th century BC, mixing Greek and Phoenician influences while maintaining and even reinventing local traditions. This interplay suggests a balancing act between adopting cosmopolitan trends and preserving local identity. On the other hand, pottery production in Ascoli Satriano remained more traditional for a longer period despite the early presence of imported Greek vessels. A significant change did not occur until the 4th century BC when the local production of Greek-inspired red-figure pottery reflected greater integration into Mediterranean networks at a time of increasing social stratification. In contrast, despite evidence of imported Greek tableware, Ripacandida showed minimal external influence in its pottery production. The broader context of these findings suggests that pottery production was closely linked to the organisation of local societies and their degree of integration into wider Mediterranean networks. At Monte Iato, the diversity in ceramic styles reflects elite strategies of power negotiation, balancing cosmopolitan and traditional elements to assert status. Ascoli Satriano's delayed acceptance of outside influences coincides with a period of increasing social complexity, while Ripacandida's resistance to foreign styles indicates a more isolated and less stratified society. Overall, the project demonstrates that pottery production reveals cultural exchange and reflects the social structures and changes of the communities that produced it. The adoption of external influences was closely linked to a site's level of integration into transregional networks and the power dynamics within its society.