Our core mission is to investigate the production organization of earthen artifacts through archaeological science methods, relying on transdisciplinary research frameworks. We particularly focus on exploring materials as indicators of interactions between different craft domains. Spanning multiple eras and stretching over wide geographic areas, we delve into:

• Strategies employed in the procurement of raw materials
• The degree of standardization and specialization in the production process
• Mechanisms governing the acquisition and transmission of knowledge
• Responses to technological changes and innovations
• The participation in exchange and trade networks

We place special emphasis on diachronic studies to contextualize the material evidence within broader cultural, socio-economic and political contingencies. Moreover, adopting a life-cycle perspective, our research extends to the use, re-use, alteration, and eventual disposal of artifacts.

Current flagship projects are dedicated to exploring the connections between craft organization and phenomena of mobility, acculturation, centralization, urbanization, and state organization.  Through the collaboration with other archaeological scientists, our research also illuminates how production systems intersect with vital aspects like subsistence strategies, consumption practices, and environmental conditions.

Methods of Analysis

Petrography, mineralogy, geochemistry, electron microscopy, spectroscopy, X-ray radiography, statistics, GC-MS (in development)