Technology of asbestos-tempered pottery making: formulation of the problem and program of experiments

There is a common idea in publications about pottery traditions and cultural and historical processes in Eastern Fennoscandian Neolithic that the tradition of asbestos-tempered pottery was spread so widely and for such a long time due to the technological advantages of this temper. On the one hand, this idea contradicts the notions on conservativeness and traditionality in ancient pottery making. On the other hand, we can confidently state that asbestos as a temper had a certain non-functional value. At the same time, we cannot deny the functional advantages of asbestos without carrying out relevant experiments. One can prove or deny the mentioned hypothesis by comparing the characteristics of asbestos as a temper with other materials, first of all, crushed stone and bird down. According to the preliminary program of the experiments to answer all the main questions about asbestos as tempering material one should make at least 60 experimental vessels and the same amount of small experimental models, produce low, medium, and high temperature firing and run all the necessary tests. The experiment turns out to be quite lengthy and labor intensive, but quite manageable in case of proper preparation.