Analysis of Eneolithic (4600-3200 B.C.) Pottery from the Maliq Settlement, Albania

The multi-period site of Maliq is one of the main prehistoric sites in Albania. The archaeological material collected during many years of excavations in the Maliq settlement has yielded valuable information about the prehistory of Albania, especially for the Eneolithic period. Based on radiocarbon dating, the Eneolithic period in Maliq began around 4600-4500 BC. The Eneolithic period corresponds with Maliq II, divided into two phases: Maliq IIa and IIb. The analyzed ceramic assemblage included published and unpublished pottery. This study aimed to create a typological classification, examine decoration techniques, and use petrographic analysis to pinpoint the potential raw material sources. The variety and richness of the forms and decoration techniques give insights into the relationships of Maliq II culture with other contemporaneous neighboring cultures of the Balkans. The local development of Eneolithic culture is evident at Maliq, while foreign, intrusive elements did not play a substantial role in this process.