青銅器時代、後期青銅器時代 材料 甕棺文化の器 - 122 mm

Urnfield Culture Ceramic Vessel
Culture / Period: Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age
Date / Period: 1550–1200 B.C.
Material: Pottery
Dimensions: 122 mm x 175 mm
Condition: Good condition, with surface wear, minor cracks, and encrustations consistent with age; structurally stable

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 72
The current owner purchased the Urnfield culture vessel from a private collector, Hans L., in Eindhoven.
The previous owner, a private collector, Hans L. from Eindhoven (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.
According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1970s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object is available.

Background Information:
This vessel is attributed to the Urnfield culture of the Late Bronze Age, a widespread cultural horizon in Central Europe characterised by distinctive burial practices and ceramic traditions. The name “Urnfield” derives from the custom of cremating the deceased and placing the ashes in ceramic urns, which were then buried in large cemeteries often consisting of hundreds or even thousands of graves.

The present example displays a simple yet functional form, with a slightly flaring rim and a rounded, tapering body. Small applied protrusions on the exterior may have served as rudimentary grips or decorative elements. The coarse fabric and hand-formed construction reflect the practical nature of pottery production during this period, prior to the widespread adoption of the fast potter’s wheel in many regions of Europe.

Such vessels were used in both domestic and funerary contexts. In daily life, they could serve for storage, preparation, or consumption of food and liquids. Within the funerary sphere, similar forms were commonly used as urns to contain cremated remains, sometimes accompanied by smaller vessels or grave goods. Without a documented archaeological context, it is not possible to determine the original use of this specific piece, but its form is consistent with known Urnfield ceramic traditions.

The production of pottery in the Urnfield culture was typically carried out at a local level, using regionally sourced clays and traditional hand-building techniques. Despite this local character, there is a remarkable degree of stylistic coherence across wide areas of Europe, indicating strong cultural connections and shared practices. Such vessels are known from regions spanning present-day Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and beyond, reflecting networks of cultural exchange during the Late Bronze Age.

Dating to approximately 1550–1200 B.C., this vessel belongs to a transformative period marked by increasing social complexity, evolving burial customs, and expanding trade networks. The Urnfield culture represents a key phase in the development of later Iron Age societies in Europe.

This piece provides a direct and physical link to prehistoric Europe, where such vessels played an essential role in both daily life and ritual practice. It forms a tangible connection to the communities of the Late Bronze Age and to the traditions that shaped early European cultural development.