Concise Manual for Ceramic Studies: From the Nile Valley to the Middle East

Romain David (dir.)

Africae Studies

This manual is intended to accompany the training of future ceramic specialists in the Arab world. Resulting from the collaboration of four major institutions of French archaeology abroad: the Section française de la direction des Antiquités du Soudan (Sfdas), the Institut français d’Archéologie orientale (Ifao), the Institut français du Proche-Orient (Ifpo) and the Centre français de recherche de la péninsule arabique (Cefrepa), it draws on the recent work of specialists from the Nile Valley, the Near East and the Arabian Peninsula to shed light on the theoretical reflections that have enriched ceramic studies in recent decades. Providing a genuine field tool, this volume is nonetheless a skilfully illustrated collection of the contribution of ceramic studies to the understanding of human history.

This is the English version of the manual. The bilingual version (English / Arabic) is available here:  https://page.hn/yq8gch. 

• Éditeur : Africae, Soleb
• Collection : Africae Studies
• Lieu d’édition : Paris, Khartoum, Nairobi
• Année d’édition : 2022
• Publication sur OpenEdition Books : 03 juillet 2023
• Nombre de pages : 167 p.

 

Comparative chronology of the Nile Valley to the Middle East

Romain David et Mustafa Ahmad

Acknowledgements

Contributors

I. The First Steps on the Field

The First Steps on the Field: Foreword

Valentina Vezzoli et Saskia Buechner-Matthews

I.1 Definition of Methodology according to the Archaeological Context

Saskia Buechner-Matthews et Valentina Vezzoli

I.2 Management of the Ceramics during Fieldwork

Saskia Buechner-Matthews

I.3 Storage and Conservation Strategy

II. Ceramic Classification

Ceramic Classification: Foreword

Steven Matthews

II.1 Classification: the Language of Observation

Saskia Buechner-Matthews et Anne Benoist

II.2 Field Sorting Pottery Groups

Bettina Bader et Mary Ownby

II.3 The Pottery Fabrics

Lara Maritan et Mary Ownby

II.4 Ceramic Laboratory Analyses

Elsa Jadot

II.5 The Concept of “Chaîne Opératoire”

Katarzyna Danys et Bogusław Franczyk

II.6 Ethnoarchaeology and Experimental Archaeology

III. Documentation of the Assemblages

Documentation of the Assemblages: Foreword

Romain David et Saskia Buechner-Matthews

III.1 Quantification

Valentina Vezzoli et Saskia Buechner-Matthews

III.2 Selection of Forms to be Recorded

Katarzyna Danys et Saskia Buechner-Matthews

III.3 Numbering the Objects

Valentina Vezzoli et Saskia Buechner-Matthews

III.4 Ceramic Description

Saskia Buechner-Matthews et Romain David

III.5 Drawing and Photography

IV. Computerisation of the Documentation

Computerisation of the Documentation: Foreword

Saskia Buechner-Matthews et Romain David

IV.1 Vector Drawing Programs and Publication of Archaeological Drawings

Mustafa Ahmad

IV.2 Quantitative Analysis with Excel

Katarzyna Danys et Mustafa Ahmad

IV.3 Management of the Documentation through Databases

V. Various Approaches of the Ceramic Documentation

Various Approaches of the Ceramic Documentation: Foreword

Romain David

V.1 The Chrono-typology: a Case Study from Karnak (Egypt)

Julia Budka

V.2 Highlighting Economic and Cultural Exchanges

Agnès Vokaer

V.3 Identifying Patterns of Production

Patrick E. McGovern

V.4 Vessel Contents as Revealed by Organic Residue Analysis

Ulrike Nowotnick et Steven Matthews

V.5 From Sherds to Food Traditions: Determining Ancient Vessel Function

VI. Ceramic Studies in French Institutes Abroad

Ceramic Studies in French Institutes Abroad: Foreword

Romain David

VI.1 Sudan: The Sfdas and Meroitic Ceramic Studies

Sylvie Marchand

VI.2 Egypt: The Ceramic Laboratory of the Ifao

Valentina Vezzoli et Dominique Pieri

VI.3 Lebanon: Ceramics from the Islamic Period at the Ifpo

Maria-Paola Pellegrino et Anne Benoist

VI.4 Arabian Peninsula: a Ceramic Study Programme at the Cefrepa

VIIa. Lexicon

VIIb. Bibliography

Map of the Main Sites Mentioned