Kemmelberg

The current champagne region in northern France extends mainly around the rivers Aisne and Marne. In the Iron Age, this region exhibited common features, including specific kinked pottery. The earthenware of the Kemmelberg shows striking similarities with at least three basic shapes that are common in the Aisne-Marne culture: situlae (bucket shape), cups, and bowls.

Aisne-Marne shapes of the Kemmelberg
The three Aisne-Marne shapes which are common on the Kemmelberg: bowl (left), cup (middle), and situla (bucket shape) (right), each with a wide variety of dimensions, finishing, and decoration and, therefore, perhaps also of use.

Finishing gradations of situlae
Finishing gradations for situlae; from left to right, scaly relief decoration, fine and smooth with horizontal groove decoration, and a rougher, undecorated version.

Undecorated cups
The cups, bowls, and situlae belong to the basic range of the Iron Age household.

Undecorated bowls
The crockery has a typical shape (strictly kinked) and decoration style and refers to the Aisne-Marne culture.

Cup fragment
Cup fragment with geometric decorations.