A Chalcolithic Pottery Kiln from the Cucuteni-Cetățuie Settlement (Iași County, Romania)
A Chalcolithic Pottery Kiln from the Cucuteni-Cetățuie Settlement (Iași County, Romania)

Summary/Abstract: As a result of the magnetic survey on an area of more than five hectares, located south-west of Cetățuie, we are currently aware of an extension of the Cucutenian habitation, consisting of numerous burned and unburned structures, pits and two defensive ditches in the form of circular arcs. The magnetic map allowed, beginning with the 2017 campaign, the placement of smaller (test trenches) or larger excavation units for the verification of various types of anomalies (burnt houses, defence ditch, pits). In the last (2022) campaign, in addition to investigating a defensive ditch and a dwelling, it was decided to excavate also an anomaly initially considered a pit. The surprise was the identification of a pottery kiln, belonging to phase B of the Cucuteni culture, located in the immediate vicinity of the last defensive ditch (in the north-western part of the settlement). Its excavation revealed a quasi-unique type of pottery firing installation, partially buried, updraught, with two chambers (a lower, combustion chamber, and an upper firing chamber). Its unique feature is the absence of the usual stoking chamber and stoking pit for fuel supply in front of the kiln. Instead, the kiln had an elongated stoke hole, placed laterally, which communicated with just one channel, to the south. Being a rather rare discovery, at least in the Cucuteni area west of the Prut River, the presence of this kiln brings evidence of the specialized practice of the pottery craft in the eponymous settlement and nuances the known typology of pottery firing installations in the prehistory of south-eastern Europe.

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