When the potter has a choice: New insights into Neolithic pottery production in the Adige Valley (northeastern Italy)

• Technological analysis of Neolithic pottery production in the Adige Valley. • Riparo Gaban and La Vela are key sites for the study of the Neolithic in northern Italy. • Investigation of raw material procurement strategies during the Neolithic. • The region’s geological heterogeneity is reflected in the ceramic pastes. • Detection of both continuities and changes in the paste preparation process between the early and middle Neolithic. During the 5th millennium BCE the Neolithic way of life was gradually established in the Adige Valley (northeastern Italy). This process was also linked to the appearance of pottery production. While ceramic assemblages from this region have traditionally been investigated through a stylistic approach, their technological aspects have not been addressed. This study tackles this gap by focusing on two key sites located in the Adige Valley, Riparo Gaban and La Vela. These sites provide a diachronic perspective on ceramic production from the early to the middle Neolithic. Petrographic analysis was conducted on 46 sherds to investigate technological choices, particularly the selection of raw materials. The aim is to reconstruct the relationship between Neolithic communities and the natural resources available in their environment and to understand how this changed during the considered timespan. The results highlight a significant variability in raw materials choices, reflecting a knowledge of the different resources available in the area. They also reveal continuity and change in the selection and processing of raw materials across the two considered phases. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the exploitation of geological resources in the Adige Valley during the Neolithic period and provide a basis for future comparative studies in the region and beyond.