Disputation - Erik Johansson

Erik Johansson disputerar på avhandlingen: Earthenware Change in Southern Scandinavia – The Case of Lund, 1150–1350.

"This doctoral thesis investigates mediaeval earthenware production, distribution and consumption based on material from Lund, Sweden, moving beyond simple technological shifts to explore the interplay of material factors, social practices, and economic influences. It presents a typology of hard greyware, redware and glazed redware, as well as the chemical analysis of circa 400 samples. 

The study argues that changes in pottery– particularly the rise of glazed redware jugs – were not driven by isolated innovations but rather by interconnected activities, reshaping consumption patterns. 

Wine consumption among merchants played an important role in the emergence of glazed redware jugs, but the increase, from approximately 1200 onwards, is attributed not to wine or new techniques but to a widening distribution, increased general usage, and subsequent pressure on producers and distributors – effectively creating a denser network of material dependencies. Statistical analysis suggests deliberate adaptation by potters to meet diverse demands.

Ultimately, this research demonstrates that changes in ceramic practices were deeply intertwined with broader social, economic, and cultural transformations within Lund’s sphere of consumption".