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Clay, the basic material of pottery, has two key characteristics: it is plastic (meaning it can be molded and will retain the shape imposed upon it), and it hardens on firing to form a brittle but otherwise virtually indestructible material that is not attacked by any of the agents that corrode metals or organic materials.

For example, if a sun-dried clay vessel is filled with water, it will eventually collapse, but, if it is heated, chemical changes that begin to take place at about 900 °F (500 °C) preclude a return to the plastic state no matter how much water is later in contact with it.

It is impossible to say when the potter’s wheel, which is a difficult tool and needs a long apprenticeship, was introduced.

The development of the slow, or hand-turned, wheel as an adjunct to pottery manufacture eventually led to the introduction of the kick wheel, rotated by foot, which became the potter’s principal tool.

Clay is abundant, cheap, and adaptable, which makes it perfect for human exploitation. Because usable clay is widely available, pottery was independently invented in many parts of the world at different times.

Much of the earliest recorded evidence of clay usage dates back to the Late Palaeolithic period in central and western Europe, where fired and unfired clay figurines were created as a form of artistic expression. As early as 30,000 years ago, we can also see evidence of some experimentation with clay: at a site known as Dolni Vestonice (Czech Republic), figurines made of clay mixed with crushed mammoth bone were found.

Although there is not necessarily a direct causal relationship between a sedentary way of life and pottery-making, the introduction of pottery generally coincides with the adoption of an agricultural lifestyle, when durable and strong vessels and containers are needed.

In fact, potteryis used to date archaeological sites. This is especially important at places where written records cannot offer chronological references, either because they cannot be found or because they remain undeciphered.

A famous example comes from the island of Crete, where Arthur Evans was able to date the excavation of the Palace of Knossos based on imported Egyptian artifacts that were found there, including pottery, allowing the researchers to extend the Egyptian chronology to Crete.

Pottery can be analyzed on the basis of several features: shape, type of surface, colors, drawing patterns, and decorative styles. All these elements, studied in detail for each particular culture and time, can help to understand the artistic development of a society and may also enable specialists to identify pottery fragments when they are found in places far away from their production centre, reflecting trade activity and exchange networks.