Ceramics Books and Magazines

Chapters 1-3 introduce ceramics at their atomic level, starting from material preparation and following through to the completion of a piece of pottery. As the whole book is grounded in the concrete of showing how ceramics answer specific questions, so S.'s discussion of how pottery is created is also practical. As such, a high point of Chapter 2 is when S. takes us on a journey through an actual potter's workshop. By using a model of analogy, she convincingly constructs what the ancient process of pottery making consisted of. The potter's workshop is a case study from modern Kamalapuram, India. Based on personal visits there, S. begins at the beginning of how the family passes along the knowledge of pottery making from generation to generation (much as one would expect of the tradesmen of the ANE). From there, she follows through with the actual labor of gathering the materials for making the clay, the task of shaping pottery (using various methods), primitive firing, and finally the trade, commerce and use of the finished pieces. She provides a layout of the workshop, the familial essence of the operation, and the craftsmanship that under girds it all.

Chapter 5 tackles the question of using ceramics to answer questions related to cultural uses of ceramics, along with the production and distribution thereof. Part of the problem of ascertaining ceramic usage from the archaeological find is that pottery is not normally found where it was last used, but has a life cycle of being used, being broken and then being deposited. Therefore, when analyzing sherds, "discard behavior and deposition processes must be taken into account" p86. Ceramic assemblages are formed based on complex human behavior. For example, a piece of pottery created for cooking, once broken, may be employed in such unrelated areas as wall building. Destruction levels are particularly useful to the archaeologists, because it is when destruction comes that pottery is most likely to be left where it was last used. Finding how ceramics are distributed across a site will allow for determining usage patterns. For doing this, it is important for the historian to obtain some accurate accounting of the frequency of different vessel types throughout the site. The problem here is that "the frequencies of vessel types in an archaeological assemblage is not necessarily a direct reflection of their frequency of use at any one point in time" p86. That is, one must be careful on any conclusions drawn simply from counting types.

The goal of Chapter 6 is to "consider how to examine social variation in ceramics using archaeological data" p124. A method for attaining this goal is based on "the recognition of patterns: consistent association of ceramic classes, spatial clustering within sites, and so on" p124. Ceramical differences among areas within a site, even micro differences in rims and vessel shape, may indicate social differences. Giving meaning to pottery attributes is not a simple task, as the social function of style is not recorded in the pottery, but is only reflected in the pottery. Analysis at this level requires a flow of information back and forth between pattern recognition and interpretation. The process of understanding social meaning in variations should included 1) a theoretical grid by which to filter variability; 2) seeing patterns over the larger set of all data; 3) evaluating patterns over time and space; 4) as necessary, revisiting and updating the interpretive grid.

Social, economic and political conditions are all of a piece in complex societies. Chapter 5 dealt more with the economics of ceramics, Chapter 6 with the social norms expressed in ceramics, and so Chapter 7 takes up the subject of politics and ceramics. In this chapter, S. deals with the impact of centralized control and production of ceramics, giving three case studies that illustrate the politics of ceramics. One pattern that emerges is that an increase in central control of a region means increased standardization among vessel forms and quality. As a case study, S. takes up ceramic production in Oaxaca in Central Mexico. Eleven periods from 1450 B.C. to A.D. 1520 are discussed, and it is shown how the increase and decrease of centralized political control in those periods is reflected in pottery. The basic patter is that increased centralization means increased control over pottery production (central sites of production) and an increase in production scale with concomitant standardization of vessels, meaning a reduction in energy per vessel in production along with a decrease in decorative quality. In contrast, political decentralization meant diversity in pottery with more energy to produce a vessel and more decorative quality. In a centralized system, fine wares for the elite were the basis of competition among localized producers; the utilitarian products were standardized.

I hope this survey is helpful as you try to decide how to spend that all-to-limited book money!


Sinopoli's Approaches to Archaeological Ceramics   October 25, 2000
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This book is excellent in my opinion for both undergraduate and graduate students in archaeology, as well as current professionals and those who just consider archaeology a hobby. Sinopoli manages to explain the basics of ceramic production, use, and analysis without being either over technical or overly simplified. The structure of the book is excellent as well, with chapters organized into a beginning section introducing the topic of discussion and then followed by a case study to reinforce the ideas and methods put forth in the chapter and giving the book a "real world" appeal. In all, an excellent resource, one that I will probably use throughout my career as an archaeologist.