Pottery Analysis, Second Edition: A Sourcebook - Softcover

Rice, Prudence M. M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0226923215 ISBN 13: 9780226923215

Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2015

Synopsis

Just as a single pot starts with a lump of clay, the study of a piece’s history must start with an understanding of its raw materials. This principle is the foundation of Pottery Analysis, the acclaimed sourcebook that has become the indispensable guide for archaeologists and anthropologists worldwide. By grounding current research in the larger history of pottery and drawing together diverse approaches to the study of pottery, it offers a rich, comprehensive view of ceramic inquiry.

This new edition fully incorporates more than two decades of growth and diversification in the fields of archaeological and ethnographic study of pottery. It begins with a summary of the origins and history of pottery in different parts of the world, then examines the raw materials of pottery and their physical and chemical properties. It addresses ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological perspectives on pottery production; reviews the methods of studying pottery’s physical, mechanical, thermal, mineralogical, and chemical properties; and discusses how proper analysis of artifacts can reveal insights into their culture of origin. Intended for use in the classroom, the lab, and out in the field, this essential text offers an unparalleled basis for pottery research.

About this title

About the Author

Prudence M. Rice is distinguished professor emerita in the Department of Anthropology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0226923215
• ISBN 13: 9780226923215
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 593