This fascicle is the first of two detailed reports on the more than one million pieces of pottery (and three complete vessels) recovered from Franchthi Cave and Paralia. These accounts will significantly increase our understanding of Neolithic pottery and Neolithic society in southern Greece. The enormous amount of pottery and the detailed stratigraphic sequences at Franchthi have enabled Vitelli to propose finer chronological distinctions than ever before possible and to talk meaningfully about the people who made and used that pottery. Vitelli's report describes a new classification system she developed for Aegean Neolithic ceramics that makes it possible to address questions about social and economic organization in Neolithic Greece. Part I of this volume explains the new classification system developed by Vitelli and its rationale, describes the analyses performed on the sherds, and describes and explains the establishing of ceramic phases within the stratigraphic record. Part II discusses in turn each of the ceramic subphases for the period covered by this volume (Early and Middle Neolithic). of pottery found at the site. Part IV begins the task of assessing the implications of the analyses reported here.