4: Ceramics

Question 1

what is a ceramic, pottery, and pottery sherd

Answer 1

• Ceramic: objects made form silicate based clays that have been transformed by exposure to heat
• Pottery: vessels made from clay
• Pottery sherd: broken piece of pottery with sharp edges, found at an archaeological site. Abbreviation of potsherd. not a shard

Question 2

What is pottery and what was it used for

Answer 2

• containers
• used for storage and transport
• durable and heat resistant
• enable new methods for cooking and food processing

Question 3

what is clay, the process, and its properties

Answer 3

• Clay: material derived from soil that mostly consists of fine grained silicate minerals that becomes moldable with water
• heat applied to clay transforms mineral structures and hardens, decreasing porosity
• vitrification: process by which clay melts to glass. begins between 700-950C. Makes it more durable

Question 4

4 types of cermamic industries and their firing temperature

Answer 4

1. Terracotta: below 900C
2. Earthenware: 800-1200C
3. Stoneware: 1200-1350C
4. Porcelain: above 1350C

Question 5

Properties of terracotta

Answer 5

• fire at <900C
• coarse and porous interior
• unvitrified
• brownish orange to red color

Question 6

properties of earthenware

Answer 6

• fired at 800-1200C
• earthy reddish or brown color
• coarse and porous interior
• small portion vitrified

Question 7

properties of stoneware

Answer 7

• fired for several days at 1200 to 1350C
• partially vitrified
• white, cream, or grey in color
• higher quality and more durable
• smooth, not porous

Question 8

properties of porcelain

Answer 8

• most advanced ceramic type
• originated in china
• firetd at several days at 1280-1400C or more
• fully vitrified
• thin and delicate but strong
• translucent and milkt white color

Question 9

Steps to Pottery Production

Answer 9

1. Procurement
2. Processing and preparation
3. formation
4. drying
5. surface treatments
6. firing

Question 10

1. procuring raw materials and two types of clay

Answer 10

• Raw materials: clay, water, non plastic tempers
• Primary clays: develop in situ from underlying bedrock due to decomp of bedrock
• Secondary clays: clay that has been transported to a new location via natural processes. Finer grained than primary and higher quality

Question 11

2. processing clay

Answer 11

1. processing: non clay minerals and other unwanted inclusions removed
   * dry clay is crushed, ground, and sieved
   * decantation: clay is soaked in water to separate clay particles and fine material from heavier inclusions –> increases plasticity

Question 12

2. preparing clay

Answer 12

• temper: non plastic materials added to clay to help objects retain shape and size during drying and firing. May be organic or inorganic. Sand, stone, bone, shell, dung, plant fivers
• paste: mixture used to build ceramic objects. Clay+temper = paste

Question 13

3. primary forming techniques

Answer 13

• hand building: any forming method that doesnt rely on centrifugal force to shape clay
• wheel throwing: relies on use of centrifugal force to build and shape the clay. was after arrival of europeans

Question 14

5 types of hand building

Answer 14

• pinching: clay opened using fingers
• drawing: clay pulled upwards
• slab modeling: segments are made separate and joined
• molding: uses a prepared mold that may transfer a design
• coiling: stacking coils of clay. smoothed together after with water

Question 15

Simpe wheel

Answer 15

• single wheel on a central, rotating pivot
• rotated bt hand or with a stick
• less powerful centrifugal force

Question 16

pit wheel

Answer 16

• two wheels connected byt central spindle. poter kicks lower wheel
• spinning generates centrifugal force and holds clay in place
• clay is shaped with the hands in ipward motion
• rilling: visible, upward moving striations on the surface of the clay

Question 17

secondary forming techniques

Answer 17

• anvil and paddle: anvil held on one side of vessel and beaten with small paddle on opposing side
• thins walls and increases vessel capacity
• leaves characteristic dimples
• scraping: objects dragged along to create texture
• trimming: removal of excess clay to alter shape or thickness

Question 18

4. drying

Answer 18

• removes excess water before firing and causes shrinkcage
• may lead to cracking and breaking without temper
• leather hard: stage at which vessel is not completely dry but storng enough to withstand surface treatments

Question 19

5. prefiring surface treatments

Answer 19

Finishing treatments:
* burnishing: smooth pebble or hard object rubbed on surface to add shine
* smoothing: use water to smootoh
* roughening: creates texture for grip or decor
* decorative treatmentsL applied textures, patterns, or surface coatings

Question 20

6 types of decorative treatments

Answer 20

1. Incising: lines cut into servince by dragging an implement across it
2. excising: clay is cut away from the surface
3. punctating: designs punched into clay with sharp instrument
4. striating: tooth or serrated object drawn across. creates parallel scored lines
5. impressing: textured objects used like baskets, shells, etc..
6. perforation: holes through vessel

Question 21

3 decorative techniques

Answer 21

1. applique: shaped clay added to the vessel surface
2. inlay: non clay objects added to the vessel surface
3. coloration: paints, slips, glazes
   * may document historic events or cultural information
   * can track trade and cultural transmission

Question 22

3 surface coatings

Answer 22

• slip: fluid suspension of clay in water to make a liquid. applied before firing to form thin coating on the vessel surface
• glaze: coating of liquid glass that fuses with vessel during firing
• paint: pigment applied before or after firing, less durable than slip or glaze

Question 23

6. Firing

Answer 23

uses open fire or a pottery kiln (building to do pottery”)

Question 24

Ceraemic analysis

Answer 24

• Type: identify shape size and function
• Maker: cultural affiliation
• Age: comparison to other materials

Question 25

Vessel type analysis, diagnostic parts, function

Answer 25

* Shape analysisL features of sherd can be used to infer vessel type, size, and function * diagnostic vessel parts: rim, lip, neck, body, shoulder, base, feet, handle, and spout * function: use wear patterns and residue analysis

Question 26

use wear patterns and residue analysis

Answer 26

* use wear patterns: marks left on a vessel as a result of use * residue analysis: study of macroscopic and microscopic organic residues to determine contents

Question 27

identifying maker

Answer 27

Cultural identity * grave goods * illustrations * technological capabilites * cultural transmission Individual identity * unique maker's mark * fingerprint analysis: age and gender

Question 28

Relative dating of pottery

Answer 28

* Typologies: based on shared attributes * cross dating: comparing different sites and dating base don the presence of certain types * frequency seriation: pottery styles have periods of growth and decline

Question 29

frequency seriation

Answer 29

* get specific sherds divided by total sherds times 100 to get frequency percentage * check notes

Question 30

absolute dating clay

Answer 30

* makers mark: unqiue to certain potters or companies * archaeomagnetic dating: orientation of magnetic particles in clay compared to earth's magnetic field in the past * thermoluminescence datingL energy trapped in clay since firing