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Attrition

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Understanding Pottery Function

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

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Abstract

The first publication for an archaeologist is remembered like a first kiss. Anytime I have the opportunity I like to ask archaeologists what their first publication was, the answer usually includes a faraway gaze as they recall the thrill of seeing their name in print. In most cases the first publications are in obscure periodicals and infrequently cited, and my first published paper is no exception, “Fluvial Sherd Abrasion and the Interpretation of Surface Remains on Southwestern Bajadas” (1987). A look at Google Scholar reveals that it has been cited just 10 times—three of them by me. This publication did not rock the archaeological world but it changed my life. It not only got me hooked on scholarly publication, but it turned my attention to abraded ceramics through not only natural but also cultural processes.

The analysis of wear patterns on ceramic vessels is an area of study which previously has not been fully exploited for deriving behavioral inferences (Bray 1982, p. 133)

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

    James M. Skibo

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Skibo, J.M. (2013). Attrition. 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_4

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