Shifting pottery use and animal management at Kopydłowo (Poland) traced through lipid residue analyses of pottery vessels

Lipid residue analysis of pottery vessels is an accepted complementary approach to traditional pottery studies. Lipids trapped in clay pores provide direct evidence of pottery use and give insights into foodstuffs processed in pots. The identification of animal-derived products, such as carcass and dairy products, gives information about aspects of animal management at archaeological sites. Herein are presented the results of the lipid residue analyses of 80 potsherds encompassing the LBK, LBPC and TRB periods at Kopydłowo. The results obtained demonstrate that: (i) ruminant carcass products were processed in pots during the LBK, LBPC and TRB periods; (ii) milk was processed using sieve vessels during the LBK most likely for the manufacture of cheese; (iii) milk was exploited extensively during the TRB being processed most extensively in beaker vessels.