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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Ceramics in context |
| Unit code |
ARCH30044 |
| 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 unit 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 an 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 enable students to develop macroscopic skills of identification of clay vessel shapes and ceramic production techniques
- To enable students to develop microscopic skills of identification of clay compounds.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- To demonstrate a strong 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 strong familiarity with archaeological contexts of ceramics and their associated socio-political significance.
- To demonstrate a strong ability to identify macroscopically clay vessel shapes and ceramic production techniques.
- To demonstrate an ability to identify microscopically clay compounds.
Teaching Information
10 hours lectures
20 hours practicals
2 hours student presentations
Assessment Information
One class test (25%)
One seminar presentation (25%)
One notebook (50%)
Reading and References
Heimann, R.B. and Maggetti, M. 2014. Ancient and Historical Ceramics: materials, technology, art, and culinary traditions (Stuttgart: Schweizerbart Science Publishers)
Henderson, J. (2000)
The Science and Archaeology of Materials (London: Routledge)
Quinn, P.S. 2013. Ceramic Petrography (Oxford: Archaeopress)
Rice, P.M. (2005)
Pottery Analysis: a sourcebook (Chicago: University of Chicago Press)
