Ceramics Definition Archaeology

Chert a fine grained sedimentary rock similar to flint that is white pinkish brown gray or blue gray in color.

Ceramics definition archaeology.

Of the same material are called terracottas. Abstract and keywords fabric description is fundamental to the characterization technological analysis and provenance determination of archaeological ceramics. It encompasses description of the arrangement size shape frequency and composition of ceramic material constituents. The art or process of making useful and ornamental articles from clay by shaping and then hardening them by firing at high temperatures.

Clay as a part of the materials used is required by some definitions of pottery but this is dubious. For example clay has chemically bonded water in it which will cause it to slake down disintegrate when a dried clay object is put in water. Processing of collected sherds can be consistent with two main types of analysis. Ceramics are generally known as pottery but the term also refers to the manufacture of any product from a nonmetallic mineral by firing at high temperatures.

Technically ceramics are those things made from materials which are permanently changed when heated. Pottery given that at this stage the size and character of the assemblage will not be known. Ceramics objects often pottery made of fired or baked clay. Introduction to ceramic identification our ceramic type collection and associated database are organized around the concept of ceramic type which is a concept typically used by historical archaeologists to identify classify and compare pottery.

In archaeology especially of ancient and prehistoric periods pottery often means vessels only and figures etc. The scientific study of material remains such as tools pottery jewelry stone walls and monuments of past human life and activities see the full definition. A mechanically revolving vessel in which ceramic materials can be placed along with water and flint pebbles or high fired porcelain slugs. Ceramic artifacts have an important role in archaeology for understanding the culture technology and behavior of peoples of the past.

They are among the most common artifacts to be found at an archaeological site generally in the form of small fragments of broken pottery called sherds.