The article discusses ceramic studies at the Brodek site in Czechia, focusing on the analysis of decorative motifs, fabric groups, and their implications for understanding social relations and mobility during the Bell Beaker phenomenon.
The research reveals that some beakers at Brodek were made from clays not locally available, indicating the involvement of regional and extra-regional communities. Petrographic analysis shows vessels made from materials sourced up to 55 km away, suggesting extensive social networks linked to the monument. The study highlights the concept of translocality, emphasising the frequent intermixing of settlement communities and the mobility of individuals during the third millennium BC in Europe.
The analysis of decorative motifs identified significant variations, such as series of diamonds, triangles, zig-zag stripes, and embedded hourglasses or small triangles. These motifs were associated with different clusters, suggesting diverse decorative traditions and possibly symbolic meanings. The study also explores the relationship between decorative motifs and fabric groups, revealing connections between specific motifs and fabric compositions.
Overall, the research underscores the importance of the Brodek site as a node in a translocal network where various communities converged, engaged in ritual activities, and exchanged ideas and values. The findings suggest that the monumental site served as a platform for social gatherings, feasting, and ritual depositions, fostering the formation of a new community of practice centred around shared ritual activities. This community of practice transcended local and regional boundaries, reflecting broader social interactions and exchanges during the Bell Beaker period in Central Europe.
