Pottery in archaeology

280 Pages·2016·55.5 MB·English

by  Orton C.

CAMBRIDGE MANUALS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Pottery in
archaeology
CUVE ORTON, PAUL TYERS AND ALAN VINCE
The study of pottery in archaeology has become increasingly important over the
last century, providing the archaeologist with information on many aspects of the
past, including chronology, trade and technology. In recent years, scientific
developments and statistical techniques have contributed still further to the
analysis of pottery. Pottery in archaeology covers information obtained from over
fifty years practical experience in the field and the latest research. As well as
detailing the routine, but essential, tasks of handling pottery, the book examines
the most recent research into the quantitative study and comparison of ceramic
assemblages. This will be essential reading for students, field archaeologists and
for anyone interested in working with pottery.
POTTERY IN ARCHAEOLOGY
CAMBRIDGE MANUALS IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Series editors
Don Brothwell, University of London
Graeme Barker, University of Leicester
Dena Dincauze, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Ann Stahl, State University of New York, Binghamton
Already published
J. D. Richards and N. S. Ryan, Data processing in archaeology
Simon Hillson, Teeth
Alwyne Wheeler and Andrew K. G. Jones, Fishes
Peter G. Dorrell, Photography in archaeology and conservation
Lesley Adkins and Roy Adkins, Archaeological illustration
Marie-Agnès Courty, Paul Goldberg and Richard MacPhail,
Soils and micromorphology in archaeology
Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology are reference handbooks designed for an international
audience of professional archaeologists and archaeological scientists in universities, museums,
research laboratories, field units, and the public service. Each book includes a survey of
current archaeological practice alongside essential reference material on contemporary
techniques and methodology.
POTTERY IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Clive Orton
Institute of Archaeology
University College London
Paul Tyers
Institute of Archaeology
University College London
Alan Vince
City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit
CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS
Published by the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge
The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RP
40 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA
10 Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3166, Australia
© Cambridge University Press 1993
First published 1993
Reprinted 1994,1995,1997
Printed in Great Britain at the University Press, Cambridge
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress cataloguing in publication data
Orton, Clive, 1944-
Pottery in archaeology / Clive Orton, Paul Tyers, Alan Vince.
p. cm. - (Cambridge manuals in archaeology)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0 521 25715 8
1. Pottery. 2. Archaeology - Methodology. I. Tyers, Paul.
II. Vince, A. G. III. Title. IV. Series.
CC79.5.P6078 1993
930.r028'5-dc20 92-25814 CIP
ISBN 0 521 25715 8 hardback
ISBN 0 521 44597 3 paperback
Röm.-Germ.
Zentralmussum
Mainz
CE
CONTENTS
List of figures page xi
List of tables xiii
Preface xiv
Acknowledgements xvi
PART I HISTORY AND POTENTIAL 1
1 HISTORY OF POTTERY STUDIES 3
Introduction 3
The art-historical phase 5
The typological phase 8
The contextual phase 13
Parallel themes - ethnography 15
Parallel themes - technology 17
Parallel themes - scientific methods 18
Parallel themes - quantification 21
2 THE POTENTIAL OF POTTERY AS 23
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE
Aims 23
The 'big three' - evidence for date, trade and function 23
or status
Manufacture and technology 30
Sherds in the soil 32
The playground of ideas 33
Implications for practice 34
PART II PRACTICALITIES: A GUIDE TO POTTERY
PROCESSING AND RECORDING 37
3 INTEGRATION WITH RESEARCH DESIGNS 39
viii Contents
4 LIFE IN THE POT SHED ^
Introduction
44
Setting up base
44
Collection policy and practice
46
Initial processing
48
Equipment ^
Retrieval procedures q
5
Cleaning and drying
51
Initial recording and processing ^
Initial viewing and spot-dating 54
Sorting 55
Physical reconstruction 55
Cataloguing 0
Computers in pottery research
To keep or not to keep
5 FABRIC ANALYSIS g
Introduction P
Equipment 67
Firing characteristics 68
Inclusions 70!
The matrix W
Creating and using a fabric type-series 72
6 CLASSIFICATION OF FORM AND 76
DECORATION
Introduction 76/
Uses of form data 76
Creating and using a form type-series
Describing shapes W
Vessels and sherds 80
7 ILLUSTRATION 87
Introduction 87
The purpose of illustrations 87
Drawing pottery 89
Photography 94
8 POTTERY ARCHIVES 9S
Introduction 98
Uses of archives 98
Practical issues 99
Contents ix
9 PUBLICATION 105
Introduction 105
Purpose of report 105
Layout of report 106
Indexing and correlation 107
Minimum standards of publication 107
Microfiche and microtype, computer media 108
Pottery specialists do it on their own 108
Summary 109
PART III THEMES IN CERAMIC STUDIES 111
10 MAKING POTTERY 113
Raw materials for pottery manufacture 114
Clay preparation 117
Forming 117
Surface treatments 126
Drying 126
Firing 126
11 POTTERY FABRICS 132
Why look at fabrics? 132
Visual examination 135
Penological analysis 140
Compositional analysis 144
Comparison between techniques 149
12 FORM 152
Approaches to the classification of shape 152
The type-series approach 153
Formal classification systems 153
Measurement-based classification 155
Geometric shapes 158
The envelope system 158
Mathematical curves as descriptions of shape 159
Classification of manufacturing stages 163
13 QUANTIFICATION 166
Introduction 166
The sampling basis 167
Uses of comparisons of assemblages 168
X Contents
Assessment of measures , JJ
Practicalities
Are the assemblages really different? , J
How big should an assemblage be? ^
Case studies ^
Spin-offs
Case study jW
Discussion igj"
14 CHRONOLOGY ^
Introduction
Pinning down dates X85?1
Bringing the evidence together Iggj
Seriation Igg
A case study 1,94
Summary 196
15 PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION 197
Information content of distribution 197
Distribution of artefact types $99
Sources of supply to a site 202
The identification of source from distribution 203
16 ASSEMBLAGES AND SITES 207
Pottery life-expectancy 201
Sherd-links 20$
Field survey data 212
Sherds after burial 214
The role of quantification 21|
17 POTTERY AND FUNCTION 217
Individual vessel function 217
Function, production and distribution 226
Symbolic meaning 2lf
Conclusion: The future of pottery studies
Appendix 231
Bibliography 243
Index 263