Abstract Pottery production is a defining craft in human history, yet its material traces in the archaeological record remain underexplored using geoarchaeological approaches. Soil micromorphology, a key technique for reconstructing site formation processes and human activities, has yet to be fully applied to ceramic production. This study presents the first systematic ethno-geoarchaeological investigation of abandoned pottery workshops. Combining field surveys with micromorphological analysis of workshop waste deposits at Yaotou, Gansu, China, this research characterises the unique ceramic ecology of the Loess Plateau, an important region for the production of painted pottery in the late Neolithic. At a macro scale, pottery production in this region is shaped by the interplay of environmental conditions, resource availability, and technological traditions. At a micro scale, micromorphological analysis identifies key diagnostic features, including clay selection, tempering strategies, and firing residues, revealing the material and technical choices of potters. Integrating these perspectives enhances our understanding of ceramic production systems and establishes a methodological framework for identifying potential pottery-related activities, such as raw material processing, firing, and waste disposal, that could be applied to archaeological contexts worldwide. The findings also contribute to broader discussions on the role of geoarchaeology in understanding past craft activities and site formation processes.
Lin et al. (Thu,) studied this question.