Technological adaptation in Grooved Ware pottery from the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney, or how to make your cordons stick

A previously unrecognized technological adaptation in Grooved Ware pottery from the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney, reveals how Neolithic potters addressed a common issue: detached decorative cordons. Analysis of pottery sherds shows that some vessel exteriors were specially prepared to ensure cordon adhesion, a solution to a persistent problem for Late Neolithic potters in Orkney. The study employed Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) to examine these 'problem-solving' sherds, providing insights into the ingenuity and practical challenges faced by ancient artisans. This discovery sheds light on the technological sophistication of Neolithic pottery production and its cultural significance within the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Towers, R., & Card, N. (2015). Technological adaptation in Grooved Ware pottery from the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney, or how to make your cordons stick. Scottish Archaeological Journal, 36-37(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.3366/saj.2014.0050