The start of pottery production by hunter-gatherers in the Low Countries (Swifterbant Culture, 5th millennium BC) : a critical assessment of the available radiocarbon dates

In this paper we critically review the earliest dates for pottery production by hunter-gatherers in the Low Countries (Swifterbant Culture). The start of pottery production in the Swifterbant Culture is traditionally set around 5000 cal BC. We argue that his date is largely based on pottery food crust dates, which have a probable reservoir effect due to the processing of freshwater fish in these vessels. If we focus only on the 14C dates of organic macro-remains, found within the same sediment layers as the pottery remains, then it is quite possible that the oldest Swifterbant Culture pottery... Mehr ...