Pottery Analysis: A Sourcebook

by Rice, Prudence M.

• ISBN13: 9780226711164
• ISBN10: 0226711161
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-01
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

A rich and comprehensive sourcebook,PotteryAnalysisdraws together diverse approaches to the study of potteryarchaeological, ethnographic, stylistic, functional, and physicochemical. Prudence M. Rice uses pottery as a starting point for insights into people and culture and examines in detail the methods for studying these fired clay vessels that have been used worldwide from prehistoric times to the present.Pottery Analysisis a classic in its field as well as an invaluable reference for all students of archaeology and ancient culture.

Author Biography

Prudence M. Rice is professor of anthropology, associate vice chancellor for research, and director of the research development office at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	xv
List of Tables	xix
Preface	xxi
Part 1 Introduction
Pottery and Its History	3	(28)
Pottery and Ceramics: Definitions and Products	3	(3)
History of Pottery and Ceramics	6	(18)
Pottery and Ceramics in the Old World	10	(1)
The Near East	10	(2)
The Far East	12	(5)
Europe and the Mediterranean	17	(2)
Pottery in the New World	19	(5)
Overview of Pottery Studies	24	(2)
References	26	(5)
Part 2 The Raw Materials of Pottery Making
Clays: Their Origin and Definitions	31	(23)
Earth Materials	31	(4)
Feldspars, Weathering, and Clay Origins	35	(1)
Definitions of Clays	36	(15)
Depositional Situation of Clays	36	(2)
Granulometry of Clays	38	(2)
Chemical Definitions of Clays	40	(3)
Mineralogical Definitions of Clays	43	(2)
Phyllosilicates	45	(5)
Lath-Structure Clays	50	(1)
Commercial Uses of Clays	50	(1)
Functional Definitions of Clays	51	(2)
References	53	(1)
Properties of Clays I: The Clay/Water System	54	(26)
The Clay/Water System	54	(4)
Plasticity	58	(5)
Factors Influencing Plasticity	58	(2)
Measuring Plasticity	60	(3)
Drying and Shrinkage	63	(9)
Water in the System	63	(2)
Processes of Drying and Shrinkage	65	(2)
Drying Defects and Green Strength	67	(4)
Measuring Shrinkage	71	(1)
Inclusions and Impurities	72	(6)
Coarse Inclusions	72	(4)
Colloids, Ions, and Organics	76	(2)
References	78	(2)
Properties of Clays II: Firing Behavior	80	(33)
Variables of Firing	80	(6)
Physical and Chemical Changes in Firing	86	(16)
Loss of Volatiles	87	(3)
Changes in the Clay Minerals	90	(3)
Changes in Inclusions and Impurities	93	(1)
Quartz	94	(2)
Feldspar	96	(1)
Calcium	97	(1)
Glaze Formation	98	(4)
Summary	102	(8)
The Thermal Reaction Sequence	102	(2)
The Fired Product: Stresses and Defects	104	(3)
Some Considerations of Firing Technology	107	(3)
References	110	(3)
Part 3 Pottery Manufacture and Use
Pottery Manufacturing Technology: An Ethnographic Overview	113	(55)
Ethnographic Pottery Studies	113	(2)
Obtaining and Preparing Resources	115	(9)
Tools and Techniques	115	(5)
Ethnographic Examples	120	(4)
Forming, Finishing, and Decorating	124	(28)
Forming: Tools and Techniques	124	(1)
Hand Building and Molding	125	(3)
Throwing	128	(4)
Supports and Rotational Devices	132	(4)
Finishing: Tools and Techniques	136	(5)
Forming and Finishing: Ethnographic Examples	141	(3)
Surface Enhancement	144	(1)
Surface Penetration or Displacement	144	(3)
Additions to the Surface	147	(5)
Drying and Firing	152	(14)
Tools and Techniques	152	(1)
Nonkiln Firing	153	(5)
Kiln Firing	158	(5)
Postfiring Treatments	163	(1)
Ethnographic Examples	164	(2)
References	166	(2)
Pottery Economics: Perspectives on Production and Distribution	168	(39)
Anthropology and Commodity Production	168	(8)
Economic Anthropological Literature	169	(1)
Concepts in the Study of Production	170	(2)
Ethnographic Overview: A Focus on Firing	172	(1)
Firing Loss Rates	173	(1)
Fuel Costs	174	(2)
Issues in the Study of Pottery Production	176	(15)
Location of Production	177	(3)
Organization of Production	180	(1)
Scale of Production	180	(2)
Mode of Production	182	(1)
Models of Production and Specialization	183	(8)
Distribution and Exchange	191	(10)
Ethnographic Overview	191	(6)
Archaeological Approaches and Models of Distribution	197	(4)
Variability in Ceramic Products	201	(3)
Summary and Conclusions	204	(1)
References	205	(2)
Vessel Function: Form, Technology, and Use	207	(37)
Vessel Function	207	(4)
Kinds of Vessel Functions	208	(2)
Determining Vessel Function	210	(1)
Vessel Form: Relating Form and Function	211	(15)
Anatomy of a Vessel	212	(3)
Description of Form	215	(1)
Inferred Use Classifications	215	(2)
Vessel Contour Classifications	217	(2)
Geometric or Volume Classifications	219	(3)
Reconstructing Form from Sherds	222	(2)
Use-Related Properties: Capacity, Stability, Accessibility, and Transportability	224	(2)
Composition and Properties: Relating Technology to Use	226	(6)
Thickness	227	(1)
Resistance to Mechanical Stress	228	(1)
Thermal Behavior	228	(2)
Permeability/Porosity/Density	230	(2)
Surface Treatment	232	(1)
Direct Evidence of Use	232	(4)
Identification of Contents	232	(2)
Use Wear	234	(1)
Fireclouding and Sooting	235	(1)
Summary: Form, Technology, and Use	236	(6)
Vessel Functions	237	(4)
Vessel Forms	241	(1)
References	242	(2)
Pottery Decorative Styles and Stylistic Analysis	244	(30)
What Is Style?	244	(8)
Origins of Styles	245	(1)
Terminology of Styles	246	(3)
Analysis and Interpretation of Decorative Styles in Pottery	249	(3)
Design Elements and Interaction	252	(6)
Critiques of the Interaction Theory	254	(3)
Critiques of the Element Analysis Method	257	(1)
Alternative Approaches to Style	258	(11)
Symmetry Analysis	260	(4)
Design Structure Analysis	264	(2)
Information, Diversity, and Symbols	266	(3)
Summary: Additional Considerations and Problems	269	(3)
Problems of Method	269	(1)
Problems of Interpretation	270	(2)
References	272	(2)
Special Topics in Archaeological, Ethnoarchaeological, and Ethnographic Pottery Studies	274	(35)
Pottery Classification	274	(14)
Devised Classifications	275	(2)
Folk Classifications	277	(5)
Issues in Archaeological Pottery Classification	282	(1)
Descriptive and Chronological Systematics	282	(1)
Are Types ``Real'' or ``Artificial''?	283	(2)
Statistical Approaches to Classification	285	(1)
What Is the Purpose of Classification?	286	(1)
Summary	287	(1)
Pottery Quantification	288	(5)
Sampling	289	(1)
Counts, Weights, and Vessel Equivalents	290	(3)
Assemblage Composition and Site Formation Processes	293	(13)
Ceramic Assemblages	293	(1)
Ethnographic Ceramic Censuses	293	(7)
Archaeological Approaches to Assemblages	300	(1)
Site Formation Processes	301	(5)
References	306	(3)
Part 4 Characterization Studies of Pottery
Ceramic Characterization: An Introduction	309	(22)
Characterization	309	(1)
Technological Ceramic Studies	310	(7)
Historical Background	310	(3)
Technological Properties	313	(1)
Ceramic Ecology	314	(3)
Research Design Considerations	317	(10)
Identifying Problems	317	(1)
Selecting a Sample	318	(1)
Sampling Resources	319	(2)
Sampling Sherd Collections	321	(3)
Sampling for Analysis	324	(2)
Selecting Methods of Analysis	326	(1)
Interpreting Technological and Characterization Studies	327	(2)
References	329	(2)
The Color of Ceramic Materials	331	(16)
Human Perception of Color	331	(2)
Source of the Property and Its Variability	333	(6)
Organic Matter	334	(1)
Iron Compounds	335	(1)
Other Colorants	336	(1)
Glaze Colorants	337	(2)
Measuring Color	339	(4)
Estimating Firing Conditions from Color	343	(2)
References	345	(2)
Physical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Pottery	347	(24)
Microstructure	348	(2)
Porosity	350	(4)
Hardness and Strength	354	(9)
Hardness	354	(3)
Strength	357	(6)
Thermal Properties and Stresses	363	(7)
Thermal Properties	364	(2)
Factors Influencing Thermal Stress Resistance	366	(1)
Intrinsic Properties	366	(1)
Temperature	367	(1)
Microstructure	367	(1)
Shape and Design	368	(2)
References	370	(1)
Mineralogical and Chemical Characterization of Pottery	371	(35)
Objectives and Sampling: Additional Considerations	371	(4)
Mineralogical Analysis	375	(14)
Petrographic Characterization	376	(1)
Some Principles of Optical Crystallography	376	(1)
The Polarizing Microscope	377	(2)
Petrographic Methods	379	(3)
X-Ray Diffraction	382	(4)
Thermal Analysis	386	(2)
Other Methods of Mineral Identification	388	(1)
Chemical Analysis	389	(11)
Classical Methods	391	(1)
Physical Methods	391	(1)
Optical Emission Spectroscopy	392	(1)
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy	393	(2)
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy	395	(1)
Neutron Activation Analysis	396	(2)
X-Ray Milliprobe	398	(1)
Proton-Induced X-Ray Emission	398	(1)
Mossbauer Spectroscopy	398	(2)
X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy	400	(1)
Structural and Microstructural Characterization	400	(4)
Electron Microscopy	400	(1)
Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopes	401	(1)
Electron Microprobe	402	(1)
X-Ray Radiography	403	(1)
References	404	(2)
Special Topics in Ceramic Characterization Studies	406	(43)
What Is ``Temper''?	406	(7)
Problems in Terminology	408	(1)
Distinguishing Natural from Added Substances	409	(2)
Alternative Terms	411	(2)
Provenience Studies	413	(13)
Assumptions and Procedures	413	(5)
Confounding Issues in Provenience Studies	418	(1)
Selecting Elements for Analysis	419	(2)
Comparing Sherds and Clays	421	(3)
Provenience and Production	424	(2)
Archaeothermometry: Estimating Firing Temperature	426	(9)
Physical Properties	427	(3)
Chemical Analysis	430	(1)
Mineralogy	430	(2)
Thermal Analysis	432	(2)
Summary	434	(1)
Dating and Authentication	435	(10)
Relative Dating	436	(2)
Chronometric Dating	438	(1)
Radiocarbon Dating	438	(1)
Archaeomagnetic Dating	439	(1)
Thermoluminescence Dating	440	(3)
Authentication	443	(2)
References	445	(4)
Part 5 Epilogue
Continuity and Change in the Modern World	449	(22)
Change in Pottery Systems	449	(10)
Changes in the Products: The ``Arts of Acculturation''	450	(6)
Changes in the Society	456	(3)
Continuity in Pottery Systems	459	(7)
Continuity in the Society	461	(3)
Continuity in the Products	464	(2)
Implications for Archaeology	466	(3)
References	469	(2)
Glossary	471	(16)
References	487	(56)
Index	543