An Study of Chalcolithic's Potteries Porosity to Evaluation of Social Complexity based on Pottery Production in Teppe Gheshlagh, Bijar

In the late fourth millennium B.C. (ca. 3250-3000 B.C.), a culture spread throughout Caucasus and Urmia Lake basin which has been called Transcaucasia or Kura Aras Culture. These people which archaeologists believe originate from Southern Caucasus, were developed not only in the area of animal husbandry and agriculture but also in the field of art and technology. The works remained from this period suggests the level of creativity, innovation, scientific knowledge and artistic skills of the people in that era. Among these skills earthenware making can be mentioned. One of the distinct features of earthenware in this period is blackish-gray or glossy black color which is handmade and contains mineral ingredients and has been carefully polished. In this period, artists preferred symbolic art to descriptive art and also animal figures to human, plant, etc. figures. Evidently, by examining the few remains of these works, remarkable characteristics and features of the social condition and even livelihood of these people can be discovered. In this regard, ten remarkable samples of earthenware from this culture were selected from Yanik Tepe Site and their decorative features as well as the use of patterns and their designs were studied and analyzed; although an accurate interpretation of these motifs can never be provided. Based on the findings of this research, in using the designs, the potter has considered a particular variety in the patterns and designs. Here, few dishes include decorative designs and the patterns on them are inspired by nature which reflects a kind of realism and association with the life and environment of the artists.