La tecnología alfarera como herramienta de análisis histórico: reflexiones sobre los denominados “prismas cerámicos”

Abstract

Resumen: Estudiamos en este trabajo aspectos tipológicos, funcionales y cronológicos de una serie de elementos cerámicos de morfología prismática o semilunar tradicionalmente asociados a tareas alfareras, empleados fundamentalmente como soportes o separadores. Aunque conocidos en la bibliografía hispana con anterioridad, se trata de una categoría de enorme interés para el análisis histórico pero que hasta el momento, había recibido una atención reducida, por lo que ahora planteamos una sistematización de su evolución morfológica, una aproximación diacrónica a su dispersión peninsular y también aportamos algunas consideraciones sobre la relación de estos prismas con otros procesos de transferencia tecnológica entre los colonos fenicios y las sociedades indí-genas de Iberia. Como complemento a este análisis de la evidencia peninsular, se realiza una contextualización a escala mediterránea del uso de elementos auxiliares en los talleres alfareros antiguos, intentando rastrear así los orígenes de los prismas peninsulares. Palabras clave: Útiles de alfarero, producción cerámica, Iberia, Fenicios, tecnología, prismas Abstract: Typological, functional and chronological issues of ceramic kiln furniture with prismatic and «crescent shaped» morphologies (traditionally associated with pottery production mainly as supports or spacers) are studied in this paper. Although known in regional foregoing historiography, this ceramic tools so far have received limited attention but are considered really interesting for historical analysis, so a first systematization of their morphological evolution and a diachronic approach to their diffusion in Iberian peninsula is proposed. Also we make some considerations about the relationship of these stilts with other technology-transfer processes between phoenician-punic settlers and indigenous societies in ancient Iberia. To complement this analysis of the archaeological evidence of Iberian sites we finally expose a contextualization of the finds in the Mediterranean focusing attention on the use of auxiliary equipment in ancient pottery workshops, trying to trace the origins of this kind of kiln furniture found in Iberian peninsula.

La Edad del Hierro en el Alto do Castelo (Alpiarça, Portugal)

“…Amphorae Type 1 are also present in other sites across the Tagus estuary, as, for example, in Alto dos Cacos, in Almeirim (Pimenta, Henriques and Mendes, 2012) and Quinta da Marquesa, in Vila Franca de Xira (Pimenta andMendes, 2010-2011). This last site may even correspond to one of its production sites, if we take under consideration the recovering of several deformed amphorae fragments that may result from high firing temperatures, as well as numerous ceramic prisms (ibidem), artifacts that are related with potter activities, specifically drying and separation / support during the firing process (Gutiérrez López et al, 2013). The remaining amphorae types seem to relate to later chronologies, displaying a series of variations, which are typical from the Central Atlantic coast after the mid-i st millennium bc.…”