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Interpretation and Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics (88MA)
Convenor: Dr Richard JonesTeaching Staff: Dr Richard Jones, Bill Brown (Glasgow School of Art), Lorraine McEwan and others.
Outline
The module is intended to examine what information may be obtained from studying pottery - which is commonly the most frequent class of archaeological find - and how one may go about gaining that information.The module complements Ceramic Production; the two modules normally run in alternate sessions.
Aims
- To appreciate the diversity and importance of archaeological information that can be obtained from the study of pottery
- To consider the basic elements of how pottery was made in antiquity
- To consider how pottery is classified
- To interpret pottery in terms of distribution (trade), chronology and function
- To examine the traditional and laboratory-based methods of studying pottery
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate:- A knowledge of what the study of pottery can offer the archaeologist
- An understanding of the methods of studying pottery
- Familiarity in handling, describing and recording pottery
- Some practical experience in studying the fabric by petrographic analysis
- An appreciation of what archaeological questions may be tackled by interpreting the pottery evidence