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Understanding Pottery Function

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Understanding Pottery Function

Part of the book series: Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique ((MATT))

Abstract

My ethnoarchaeological experience among the Kalinga changed forever the way I look at pottery. When I pick up a vessel and see the patterns of soot, I can also smell the smoky wood fire as it curls around the pot and then rises slowly to the roof. The charred residue over the lip makes me envision a boil-over and a doused fire because a cook was distracted by a fussy baby. As I run my fingers over the surface of a vessel I can see the clay-stained fingers of the potter, skillfully shaping the wall with a paddle and anvil as she jokes with the other potters.

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  1. Anthropology Program, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA

    James M. Skibo

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Skibo, J.M. (2013). Understanding Pottery Function. In: Understanding Pottery Function. Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4199-1_1

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