Bronze Age Terramare pottery from Northern Italy – exercises in experimental reproduction

Bronze age pottery from Montale Terramara was reproduced to investigate the specialization degree of manufacturing craft. The technique (coiling or moulds) and the raw materials (local clay tempered with grog) were investigated in a previous achaeometric research. 20 pots of various shapes (cup, bowl, pithos and jar) were reproduced by three professional potter in the archaeological park of Montale, formed with coilings and moulds and fired in a traditional kiln (reproduction of a Bronze Age kiln from the area). During the manufacturing process the time and the technical – artistic difficulty were recorded. The results helps to define the manufacturing process of the different shapes in the various phases, and contribute to the discussion of the craft specialization: five groups of pots have been classified corresponding to an increasing specialization degree.