Understanding Pottery Function

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Understanding Pottery Function

   • James M. Skibo

   Pages 1-25

3. Intended Function: Inferring Manufacturing Performance

   • James M. Skibo

   Pages 27-62

4. Sooting and Carbonization

   • James M. Skibo

   Pages 63-114

5. Attrition

   • James M. Skibo

   Pages 115-159

6. Residue

   • James M. Skibo, Mary Malainey

   Pages 161-189

7. Back Matter

   Pages 191-192

   PDF

The 1992 publication of Pottery Function brought together the ethnographic study of the Kalinga and developed a method and theory for how pottery was actually used. Since then, there have been considerable advances in understanding how pottery was actually used, particularly in the area of residue analysis, abrasion, and sooting/carbonization. At the 20th anniversary of the book, it is time to assess what has been done and learned. One of the concerns of those working in pottery analysis is that they are unsure how to “do” use-alteration analysis on their collection. Another common concern is understanding intended pottery function—the connections between technical choices and function. This book is designed to answer these questions using case studies from the author and his colleagues for applying use-alteration analysis to infer actual pottery function. The focus of Understanding Pottery Function is on how practicing archaeologists can infer function from their ceramic collection.

• Ceramic Analysis
• Residue Analysis
• Use-Alteration Analysis

From the reviews:

“James Skibo’s volume, Understanding Pottery Function, is a well-written and well-researched foray into the complex study of vessel use. … Skibo demonstrates through a number of case studies how fruitful partnerships between archeologists and chemists might be formed … . Case studies, in turn, form an integral part of this book and are one of its most pronounced strengths. … this book is a stand-alone beginners’ guide for determining vessel function … .” (Joshua R. Lieto, North American Archaeologist, Vol. 35 (2), 2014)

“Understanding Pottery Function builds on Skibo’s original 1992 book, Pottery Function. … I have no doubt that on reading this volume archaeologists will find that they look at pottery in a completely different light. It will provide them with a means to answer long-debated and seemingly unanswerable questions and also inspire them to ask new ones. Undoubtedly this volume will become a standard point of reference for pottery specialists. I certainly will return to it time and time again.” (Gareth Perry, Assemblage the Sheffield graduate journal of archaeology, November, 2013)

• Anthropology Program, Illinois State University, Normal, USA

  James M. Skibo

James M. Skibo is a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Illinois State University and the 2012 recipient of the Society for American Archaeology’s Award for Excellence in Ceramic Analysis. Besides his ethnoarchaeological work in the Philippines he has conducted research in the American Southwest and he currently works in the Great Lakes and directs the Grand Island Archaeological Project.

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