Manufacturing processes of Neolithic and modern pottery traditions in Sudan with case studies from the Nuba Mountains: A comparative study

Abstract

Ethnographic and experimental studies have provided valuable insights into early methods of pottery production. Building on this foundation, the present article explores pottery manufacture in late prehistoric in Sudan through the lens of the chaîne opératoire framework, linking archaeological evidence with modern traditional pottery practices in the Nuba Mountains. The study re-examines Mesolithic and Neolithic assemblages from Sudan, comparing them with ethnographic data collected in 2020 from workshops in Dilling (Nuba Mountains). This comparative approach sheds light on forming, preforming techniques, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of technological processes and their cultural significance in late prehistory context. The results highlight several continuities between prehistoric and modern practices. Clay collection, forming (Shaping) techniques, and open-pit firing in the Nuba Mountains mirror techniques that may have been employed in late prehistory. In vessel forming, drawing out a lump of clay and coiling by pinching were dominant methods in Mesolithic and Neolithic contexts, with supplementary preforming techniques such as paddle-and-anvil likely applied. Ethnographic parallels underscore the persistence of these handmade traditions while also revealing contexts of innovation and adaptation.