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The Two-Curvature Method for Reconstructing Ceramic Morphology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Melissa B. Hagstrum  and
John A. Hildebrand
Melissa B. Hagstrum
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, C-001, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0101
John A. Hildebrand
Affiliation:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, A-005, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0101
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Abstract

Prehistoric ceramic containers were tools used in culinary and ceremonial activity. The archaeological record preserves fragmentary remains of these ceramic tools, challenging the archaeologist to interpret their use and function from potsherds rather than from whole pots. We introduce the two-curvature method for reconstructing ceramic vessel shape and volume from assemblages of potsherds. Each point on a ceramic vessel or sherd has two dimensions of curvature, profile and axial. Profile curvature is sensitive to vessel shape, and axial curvature is sensitive to vessel diameter. Since vessel curvature and sherd curvature are the same, measuring profile and axial curvatures of potsherds provides information on parent-vessel shape and size. The two-curvature method is tested with replicated vessels, and its accuracy for measuring vessel parameters from sherd curvatures is assessed. Vessel parameters are estimated accurately from average-sherd-curvature measurements. Data gathered by using this method, on an archaeological assemblage of Kumeyaay ceramics from southern California, show that Kumeyaay pottery consists of 85–90 percent open-mouth hemispherical bowls and 10–15 percent closed-mouth spherical ollas. Through time, Kumeyaay vessel volume increased while vessel shape remained consistent.

Résumé

Résumé

Vasijas de cerámica prehistórica fueron instruments utilizados en culinaria y actividades ceremoniales. El registro arqueológico conserva restos de estos instruments de cerámica, desafiando a el arqueólogo a interpretar el uso y función de pedazos de olla y no de ollas enteras. Nosotros presentamos el método de dos curvaturas para reconstruir la vasija cerámica en forma y volumen de colecciones de tiestos cerámicos. Cada punto en una vasija o tiesto tiene dos dimensiones de curvatura, perfil y axial. La curvatura perfil es sensitiva a la forma de la vasija, y la curvatura axial es sensitiva al diámetro de la vasija. Puesto que la curvatura de la vasija y curvatura del tiesto son iguales, midiendo la curvatura perfil y axial de los tiestos proveí información progenitor de forma y medida. El método de dos curvaturas esta examinada con replicas de vasijas y su exactitud para estimar parámetros de vasijas de curvaturas de tiestos esta repartido. Parámetros de las vasijas son exactamente calculados de medidas promedios de curvatura de tiestos. El método, aplicado a una colección arqueológica de cerámica Kumeyaay desde el sur de California, nos enseña que alfareriá Kumeyaay consiste de 85–90 por ciento boquiabierto cuencos hemisféricos y 10–15 por ciento boquicerrado ollas esfericas. Por época, el volumen de las vasijas Kumeyaays aumento aunque la forma de las vasijas siguio consistente.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , April 1990 , pp. 388 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1990

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