Exploring Pottery in Archaeological Contexts: Techniques, Methods, and Application
Teacher: Dr. Mustafa Ahmad
The seminar offers students a comprehensive exploration and understanding of pottery studies in archaeology. Throughout the semester, students will delve into the historical significance of ceramics, understand the raw materials, learn the managements of the pottery during fieldwork including excavation and survey (stages of pottery processing and on-site documentation techniques using software and databases), and methods for pottery classification, cataloging, and layout for publication. Additionally, the seminar aims to explore fabric and ware analysis and how these are built and classified. Furthermore, the technological analysis of pottery manufacture will be explored using the Chaîne opératoire approach, along with the socio-cultural interpretations that arise from using this method. During the seminar, students will learn methods of pottery photography, drawing and digitization/illustration using various techniques, including the use of a laser-aided profiler. Additionally, students will learn the methods for pottery dating and the various techniques used for dating. Case studies of pottery processing, documentation, analysis, and dating from different archaeological projects will be presented. The seminar will be supported by hands-on experience with pottery sherds, providing practical experience for the students. By the end of the seminar, students will have a thorough understanding of pottery studies, from in-situ context to publication, through interpretation and analysis, and will be equipped with the skills necessary for advanced research and fieldwork in archaeology. Furthermore, the seminar will investigate the use of pottery as a means for understanding the cultural and economic aspects of societies and how these interactions can be observed through pottery.
Recommended readings :
David, Romain. 2023. Concise Manual for Ceramic Studies from the Nile Valley to the Middle East . Translated to Arabic by: Mustafa Ahmad. Paris: Soleb éditions. ( https://www.soleb.com/livres/concise-manual/english.html )
Hunt, Alice. 2017. The Oxford handbook of archaeological ceramic analysis. (Oxford Handbooks), Oxford University Press.
Orton, Clive, Tyers, Paul, and Vince, Alan. 1993. Pottery in Archaeology. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Prudence, Rice. 1987. Pottery Analysis: A Sourcebook. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. (2nd edition 2015).
Roux, Valentine. 2019. Ceramics and Society: A Technological Approach to Archaeological Assemblages. In collaboration with Marie Agnès-Courty. Cham: Springer.
Rye, Owen S. 1981. Pottery Technology: Principles and Reconstruction. Washington.