La ceramica come indicatore di complessità economica e sociale: un confronto tra due regioni di Italia e Spagna (600-800 d.C.)

This article aims to compare social and economic complexity of Early medieval rural communities in two European regions, area of Toledo, in Spain and South of Tuscany, in Italy, analysing pottery production, distribution and consumption.
After a review of the state of the art on material culture studies in early medieval societies in Italy and Spain, the case study from the area of Toledo and a case study from Tuscany are discussed, using the same methodology.
Despite the existing political and geographic difference between the two study areas, it is possible to compare the data thanks to the extensive archaeology research projects developed in Spain and Italy over the last 20 years, and aimed at studying the dynamics of the construction of the rural villages network.
The purpose is to show the potentiality and limitations of the use of ceramics in the study of early medieval society, as well as the political and economic structure of these territories.