Neolithic pottery characterization from two regions in the Iberian hinterland

The thesis presents data and interpretations, relevant to the Neolithic period and the neolithisation process of the hinterland of southwest Iberia. More specifically, the pottery collections from a cave in Portuguese Estremadura (Gruta do Cadaval), a passage grave from the Zêzere Valley (Anta 1 de Val da Laje) and a cave in the south of Spanish Extremadura (Cueva de los Postes) - three sites with different chronology and socio-cultural contexts, are studied from several aspects. First is the assessment of the formal typology on morphology and decoration. Basic morphometric and technological observations are made as well. After the classification is established, 78 samples were analysed for ancient lipid remains, which provided a socio-economic assessment of the Neolithic societies through their subsistence base. Through inter-regional comparison, conclusions are being made about the nature of the Neolithic landscape, the people in it and the existence of extra-regional communication networks.