Peterborough ware facts for kids
Peterborough ware is a special type of pottery from a very long time ago. It was made during the early to middle Neolithic period. This period is also known as the New Stone Age. The pottery is named after the areas of Middlesex and East Anglia in England. This is where it was first found.
Peterborough ware is known for its unique decorations. These are usually pits pressed into the sides of the pots. These pits were made using tools from bone or wood. Sometimes, people also used twisted cords to make circular patterns. These patterns looked a bit like small worms.
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Different Styles of Peterborough Ware
Archaeologists have found different styles of Peterborough ware. These styles are called Ebbsfleet ware, Fengate ware, and Mortlake ware. They are all part of the larger Peterborough ware family.
The idea of Peterborough ware was first introduced by a researcher named R.A. Smith. He based his ideas on pottery found near Fengate, close to Peterborough. At first, the name referred to all pottery with pressed decorations from the Stone Age. Now, it mainly describes this type of pottery found in southern and eastern England.
How Peterborough Ware Changed Over Time
The earliest form of this pottery is called the Ebbsfleet style. It had only a little decoration. Over time, the decorations became much more detailed and complex.
Some experts believe Peterborough ware might have developed from an older pottery style. This older style is called Grimston-Lyles Hill ware. This change might have happened around 3500 BC. Later styles are known as Mortlake and Fengate sub-styles.
For a long time, people thought these styles appeared one after another. They believed Ebbsfleet came first, then Mortlake, and finally Fengate. However, new research suggests that all three styles might have been made at roughly the same time. This is still a topic that archaeologists are studying and discussing today.
The Peterborough Culture Idea
For a while, archaeologists used the term "Peterborough culture." They thought that the people who made this pottery belonged to one single group or society. However, as more discoveries were made, this idea became less popular. The new findings showed that it was unlikely one unified group made all these different pots.
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Images for kids
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A Peterborough ware mortlake style bowl at Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery
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Neolithic, Sherd of Peterborough Ware (FindID 523895)
