Unit information: Ceramics in Context in 2012/13

Unit name	Ceramics in Context
Unit code	ARCH30011
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Hodos Lucas
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Pottery is perhaps the most ubiquitous material culture remain on any archaeological site of any ceramic period. Most strata are dated by their ceramic finds, and our interpretations of the functions of various areas are often based on the kinds of pottery found in any given context. This units provides an opportunity for students to gain a detailed understanding of the social significance of pottery in a variety of past civilisations. Students will also have the chance to develop knowledge of pottery production methods in the past, as well as skills of identification and analysis of pottery as required in an on-site context.

Aims:

• To introduce students to key issues informing the archaeological analysis of ceramics, such as manufacture and production techniques in the past, and modern analytical methods.

• To familiarise students with various archaeological contexts of ceramics and their associated socio-political significance.

• To encourage students to develop macroscopic skills of identification of clay vessel shapes and ceramic production techniques

• To encourage students to develop microscopic skills of identification of clay compounds.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• To demonstrate an understanding of key issues informing the archaeological analysis of ceramics, such as manufacture and production techniques in the past, and modern analytical methods.

• To demonstrate familiarity with archaeological contexts of ceramics and their associated socio-political significance.

• To demonstrate an ability to identify macroscopically clay vessel shapes and ceramic production techniques.

• To demonstrate an ability to identify microscopically clay compounds.

Teaching Information

• 10 one-hour lectures

• 10 one-hour labs

• 2 hours of student presentations on lab projects

Assessment Information

One in-class Quiz (one hour duration) (25%). One 15 min seminar presentation (25%). 1 notebook 2250-2750 words for year 2; 3000-3500 word year 3 (50%). The assessment for this unit is all summative.

Reading and References

• Barnett, W.K. and J.W. Hoopes, eds (1995) The Emergence of Pottery: technology and innovation in ancient societies (Washington DC)

• Kingery, W.D., ed. (1990) The Changing Role of Ceramics in Society: 26,000 B.P. to the present (Columbus)

• Rice, P..M. (1987) Pottery Analysis: a sourcebook (Chicago)

• Van Der Leeuw, S.E. (1976) Studies in Technology of Ancient Pottery (Amsterdam)