ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the characteristics, chronology and geographic origins of early pottery made by hunting, fishing and gathering groups situated in Western Europe, focusing on northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It presents a critical overview of the competing ceramic origin models and concludes that in Western Europe the picture is very complex due to technical problems and the multiplicity of ceramic styles and traditions. In the loess areas colonized by Linear Pottery Culture (LBK) farmers, three kinds of ceramics are often found which are considerably different, both morphologically and technologically, from the traditional LBK pottery. However, an earlier appearance cannot be fully excluded, as settlements of the oldest LBK phase are not known within the distribution area of Limburg ceramics. According to de Roever, Swifterbant pottery is perhaps more variable, but it can nevertheless be attributed to the same ceramic tradition.
