ArcheoLogica Data 3/2023

The inclusion of ceramic thin section data from multiple sites in the SEAD environmental archaeology database provides an opportunity for not only examining the distribution of organic temper in Sweden, but also for an analysis of the pros and cons of research using a large-scale data infrastructure. This paper uses an extract of over 40 years of semi-quantitative data, primarily collected at the now disbanded Ceramics Research Laboratory in Lund, to examine the evidence for the use of organic tempers in Swedish pottery. These observations are interpreted in terms of the craft traditions in the region’s prehistory, discussed with respect to their potential implications, and put in the context of similar traditions in Asia. The discussion points to a limited, selective transference of organic tempering technology from the east to Sweden. The experience of the authors in digitising and working with these data is then used as the basis for a discussion on the challenges and potentials of using large-scale multi-site databases for synthesis research. The conclusion is that the potential for creating and exploring new lines of enquiry into the material outweighs the difficulties.