Cover

Half-title

Title

Copyright

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgments

PART I HISTORY AND POTENTIAL

1 History of Pottery Studies

Introduction

The Art-Historical Phase

The Typological Phase

The Contextual Phase

Parallel Themes – Ethnography

Parallel Themes – Production and Technology

Parallel Themes – Scientific Methods

Parallel Themes – Quantification

The Way Ahead

2 The Potential of Pottery as Archaeological Evidence

Aims

Foundational Data

Integrated Data

Interpreting Data

Implications for Practice

PART II PRACTICALITIES: A GUIDE TO POTTERY PROCESSING AND RECORDING

3 Integration with Research Designs

4 Life in the Pot Shed

Introduction

Setting up Base

Collection Policy and Practice

Initial Processing

Equipment

Retrieval Procedures

Cleaning and Drying

Initial Recording and Processing

Initial Viewing and Spot-Dating

Sorting

Physical Reconstruction

Cataloguing

Computers in Pottery Research

To Keep or Not to Keep

5 Fabric Analysis

Introduction

Equipment

Firing Characteristics

Inclusions

The Matrix

Creating and Using a Fabric Type-Series

6 Classification of Form and Decoration

Introduction

Uses of Form Data

Creating and Using a Form Type-Series

Describing Shapes

Vessels and Sherds

Decoration

Decoration Type-Series

7 Illustration

Introduction

The Purpose of Illustrations

Drawing Pottery

Photography

8 Pottery Archives

Introduction

Uses of Archives

Practical Issues

9 Publication

Introduction

Purpose of Report

Layout of Report

Indexing and Correlation

Minimum Standards of Publication

Computer Media

Pottery Specialists Do It on Their Own

Summary

PART III THEMES IN CERAMIC STUDIES

10 Making Pottery

Introduction

Raw Materials for Pottery Manufacture

Clay Preparation

Forming

Surface Treatments

Drying

Firing

11 Archaeology by Experiment

Introduction

Questions about Production

Questions about Use

12 Craft Specialisation and Standardisation of Production

Introduction

Archaeological Evidence

Discussion

Implications for Theory

13 Pottery Fabrics

Why Look at Fabrics?

Visual Examination

Archaeometric (Scientific) Techniques: Introduction

Archaeometric Techniques: Petrological Analysis

Archaeometric Techniques: Compositional Analysis

Archaeometric Techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Materials Science Approaches

Integration of Scientific and Archaeological Evidence

14 Form

Introduction

Approaches to the Classification of Shape

The Type-Series Approach

Formal Classification Systems

Measurement-Based Classification

Geometric Shapes

Mathematical Curves as Descriptions of Shape

Automatic Capture of Shapes

Classification of Manufacturing Stages

15 Quantification

Introduction

The Sampling Basis

Uses of Comparisons of Assemblages

Assessment of Measures

Practicalities

Are the Assemblages Really Different?

How Big Should an Assemblage be?

Case-Studies

Spin-offs

Discussion

16 Chronology

Introduction

Pinning Down Dates

Bringing the Evidence Together

Seriation

A Case Study

Polemic

17 Production and Distribution

Information Content of Distribution

Distribution of Artefact Types

Sources of Supply to a Site

The Identification of Source from Distribution

18 Pottery and Function

Individual Vessel Function

Function, Production and Distribution

Symbolic Meaning

19 Assemblages and Sites

Pottery Life Expectancy

Sherd-Links

Field Survey Data

Sherds after Burial

The Role of Quantification

Conclusion: The Future of Pottery Studies

Appendix 1: Suggested Recording Systems for Pottery from Archaeological Sites

Appendix 2: Scientific Databases and Other Resources for Archaeometry

Bibliography

Index