Pottery in Archaeology

Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology

by Clive Orton, Paul Tyers, Alan Vince

The study of pottery has become increasingly important over the past century, providing the archaeologist with information on many aspects of the past, including chronology, trade and technology. Recent scientific developments and statistical techniques have further contributed to this analysis of pottery. Pottery in Archaeology covers information obtained from over fifty years practical experience in the field and the latest research. The book will be essential reading for students, field archaeologists and anyone interested in working with pottery.

Genres: Archaeology

287 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 1993

About the author

Clive Orton is Emeritus Professor of Quantitative Archaeology at the University College London Institute of Archaeology. He has won the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society Ralph Merrifield Award for service to London Archaeology and the British Archaeological Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. ... Google Books
Born: 1948 (age 76 years) (from his bio at Google Books)

Reviews

[Simon Goldenson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Captain obvious managed to write 300 pages without content. Contains bangers such as "most pottery sherds are found underground", "two different types of pottery should be different from each other" and "Some archaeologists find publication psychologically difficult: it has an awful
finality not unlike that of death. Part of the dread comes from the mistaken belief
that what we say will be the last word on the subject, so it had better be ‘right’. But in
archaeology there are no last words, all is provisional, and if no-one ever improves on
our work it is not because it is perfect but more likely because it is terminally boring".

[Carrie Doss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is basically ceramic analysis 101! Highly recommend for any archaeologists or pottery enthusiasts who are beginning their analysis journey.

[Zac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good analysis of pottery in the archaeological context. Orton and Hughes discuss potter use-life and the trials and tribulations of interpereting pottery in archaeology. They focus mainly on archaology in an Old World context but certainly applicable to North American pottery analysis as well.