The discipline of
archaeology is by no means a simple nor singular study of the past. Due to the wide range of evidence within the
archaeological record, from organic to inorganic, many different methods and
approaches are taken in order to deal with the wide spectrum of differing
evidence. Nevertheless, the study of
pottery is without doubt one of the most important tasks taken on by any
archaeologist. A great wealth of information
can be gained from the study of pottery, despite its inanimate state. It is for this very reason that this essay
will attempt to explore and explain the multitude of study that archaeologists
apply to pottery.
As has already
been stated, there are many lessons to be learned from the study of
pottery. These lessons vary in both
practice and utility. However, all play
their part in piecing together the past.
Much can be learned from pottery some of which is directly linked to the
pottery itself. Other information can be
found which is more inferred than anything else. This
therefore makes the study of pottery one of two parts. Firstly, the physical study of pottery, which
will be dealt with in the first part of this essay, and secondly the study of
the cultural insight pottery gives enabling archaeologists to understand the
society from which it came.
Perhaps the most
obvious way of analysing pottery is by the naked eye but its obviousness should
not detract from its importance. By
observing the physical attributes of any artefact a great deal can be told of
its manufacture as well as its manufacturer.
The practice of typology is of great use when analysing pottery. By observing the shape and size of any
artefact it is often possible to date that artefact within a specific range of
dates. The size of this range is however
not always as accurate as one might wish it to be. Nevertheless, by using typology an educated
guess can be made regarding the creation of a piece of pottery this can then be
further applied to the site itself where the pottery was excavated. If however, the piece of pottery is decorated
in any way the date of creation can be more accurate. The reason for this increase in accuracy is
quite simple. Even though the shape of a
piece of pottery is an important factor in determining its date through
typology it is unfortunately not particularly prone to change through time,
unlike decoration. The shape of a water
vessel generally remains the same in any specific culture due to the nature of
its purpose, it is therefore much more useful if a decoration is present on the
vessel since it is much more susceptible to change. Decorative features may change in a few
generations and therefore are said to be "chronologically sensitive". It is for this reason that decorative
features can narrow the range in which an artefact can be dated. As useful as typology proves to be it is
unfortunately only suitable when sufficient research has been done in the
particular area which is being studied.
Characteristics from one culture cannot necessarily be applied to
another. It is therefore not possible to
assume that a small narrow vase found in
Asia could be dated along with one of similar attributes found in Europe.
Not all physical
study of pottery have such complexities.
Very basic observations can tell a great deal about the production of a
piece of pottery. Although common place
today, the practice of throwing pots on a wheel was only introduced after
approximately 3400 B.C. Previous this
date a process of building pots up using a series of clay coils was used. This easily identifiable difference can
immediately give the piece of pottery a terminus post quem. It
also gives a very clear picture of the technology available and used by
the craftsman. The physical
characteristics of pottery can also be used to identify even finer details of
its production. If the surface of a
piece of pottery is vitrified or glazed it can be assumed that it was fired in
a heat in excess of 900 degrees Celsius which is only possible in an enclosed
kiln. the process of firing pottery in
an enclosed kiln produces complete oxidisation of the clay and therefore a
uniform colour can be seen on the finished product. A cloudy or blotchy surface indicates
incomplete oxidisation which is the product of insufficient time or heat in
firing, this is generally the result of a piece of pottery fired in an open
kiln. It is also possible to apply more
scientific methods to establish details of a piece of pottery's manufacture. Scanning electron microscopy can reveal
slight changes in the microstructure of clay heated in excess of 900 degrees
Celsius. The attention paid to how hot
the kiln was may seem at first disproportionate to its worth but in fact it is
of major importance. By establishing at
what temperature the pottery was fired at a clear picture can be painted of
mans grasp of pyrotechnology at the time in question. The building of enclosed kilns therefore is
an important stage in mans development.
By assessing the method of manufacture an archaeologist is able to
reveal the technological development of the group of people from which the
pottery came from.
Although merely
observing pottery with the naked eye can give a large amount of information it
has also been illustrated that more scientific methods of study are of great
use also. The recent development of such
methods has changed the field of vision of the archaeologist and enabled him to
view the past with greater detail. The
use of chemical and infrared spectroscopy has enabled archaeologists to
establish details of the diets of the ancient people under study. Residue left in or on pottery can be looked
at under a microscope to reveal the contents of a pot thousands of years
ago. As stated in Renfrew & Bahn a
jar found in Western Iraq, after chemical and infrared spectroscopy was found
to contain tartaric acid which indicated the earliest appearance of wine in the
diet of any human race. Of course this
particular piece of evidence goes further than merely indicating what an
ancient group of people may have eaten or drunk. It has cultural implications too. It infers that, due to the nature of alcohol,
the ancient group which the vessel came from were involved in social gatherings
where wine would be drunk. This use of
science within archaeology is by no means atypical. Scientific analysis may seem cold and quite
unable to shed light on the people of the past but this is not the case. The existence of grain impressions or grains
themselves in or on ancient pottery lend themselves perfectly to science. From this much can be learned of the culture
of the ancient people in question. By
studying the shape and size of ancient grains under a microscope archaeologists
can gain knowledge of cereal domesticity amongst early peoples. Again, as with residue in the jar stated
earlier, information regarding the culture of the group from which the pottery
came from can de deduced through the scientific results of such practices as
grain analysis through microscopy, spectroscopy and chemical testing. The cultivation and domesticating of cereals
shows and advance in mans grasp of the world around him. Oil bearing seeds found in or on pottery can
also help give an insight into the life of the group who made the pottery. Oil bearing seeds which give flax can be used
to make textiles. These seemingly
worthless remains often found in or on pottery are in fact of paramount
importance to the study of the past. As
has been illustrated knowledge of diet and behaviour as well as clothing and
technology can all be gained through the study of pottery and that found
with it.
The application
of scientific methods to the clay itself can also give great insight to the
archaeologist. By identifying the
chemical constituency of the clay the source can be identified also. This in turn gives evidence of the range and
contacts of the particular group from which the pottery came from. This information can help the archaeologist
understand the trade or lack of trade which existed amongst the ancient peoples
under study. Obviously, if a piece of
pottery was sourced 300 miles from where it was discovered it can be assumed
that the group of people from which it belonged had contact directly or
indirectly with the site 300 miles away showing either a very broad ranging
community, as associated with nomadic groups, or alternatively an established
trade link, as associated with a more settled community. In fact, as stated in Renfrew & Bahn, the
very "existence of pottery indicates the emergence of a more sedentary
life". (Renfrew & Bahn,1996,320) The presence of pottery within a culture
shows the beginnings of complexity where trade and production are beginning to
establish themselves. It is also
important to note that pottery lends itself not only to the study of early technology and complexity but also to
simpler aspects of early peoples lives.
Beliefs and religious practices can often be seen on ancient
pottery. Depictions of the arts and
music can also be found on ancient pottery such as those found on the Iberian
vases excavated in San Miguel de Lina, Spain.
The discovery of
pottery on an archaeological sight is a discovery of great importance. Pottery tells many stories of how it was made
and who made it. It also goes further
than this and can tell a great deal about the people involved in its
production. Recent developments have
transformed archaeology from "closets of curiosity" to a viewing hole
into the past. Without the existence of
pottery in the archaeological record that transformation would not have been
possible. Pottery holds an endless
supply of information all which may not have been tapped into.
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