Unit information: Ceramics in Context in 2013/14

Unit name	Ceramics in Context
Unit code	ARCH20025
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
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 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. In addition, students will gain understanding of the social significance of pottery in a variety of past civilisations.

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

At the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:

1) Identify key issues informing the archaeological analysis of ceramics, such as manufacture and production techniques in the past

2) Describe modern methods of ceramic analysis

3) Recognise archaeological contexts of ceramics and interpret their associated socio-political significance

4) Identify macroscopically clay vessel shapes and ceramic production techniques

5) Recognise microscopically clay compounds

6) Photograph and draw ceramics

Teaching Information

One one-hour lecture and one one-hour lab immediately following the lecture each week

Assessment Information

• One in-class test (25%). Assesses ILOs 1-5
• One seminar presentation (25%). Assesses ILOs 1-4 and 6
• One notebook (50%). Assesses ILOs 1-4 and 6

Reading and References

Rice, P.M. 2005. Pottery Analysis: a sourcebook. Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Henderson, J. 2000. The science and Archaeology of materials. London: Routledge