How to do Prehistoric Pottery Analysis

Archaeology Lab

So, you’re ready for prehistoric pottery analysis! Ask Dr. Reber for a bag of pottery that has not yet been analyzed. Write down the bag # from the paperwork (or remind Dr. Reber to give it to you). Now, follow these easy steps:

1) Look at all your pottery and divide them up according to surface treatment and tempering agent. All limestone-tempered cordmarked pottery in one pile, and all grit-tempered cordmarked pottery in another, for example. Have Dr. Reber check this, until you’re certain.

2) While you’re waiting for the check, take some of the clear nail polish, and polish a small area on the back of all your sherds.

3) Now, look at the cordmarked pottery very carefully. Can you see the individual twisted strands of the cords? What direction are they going? If they’re slanted up to the right, they are Z-twisted cords. If they’re slanted up to the left, they’re S-twisted. Others will probably be impossible to tell. Divide these into piles, so that you should now have a pile of S-twisted cordmarked limestone tempered sherds, a pile of Z-twisted same, and a pile of indeterminate cordmarked limestone tempered sherds.

4) On a piece of notebook paper, write the site # (11S62 or 11S295), the Feature #, zone, half, and bag # (written on the original bag of pottery). Tally up the number of each different type of sherds, and weigh them. You should wind up with a sheet including a description (Z-twist cordmarked grit-tempered sherds), a count (25) and a weight (13 g).

5) When the nail polish is dry, look for sherds that are black. Paint a layer of whiteout over the nail polish on these sherds. Wait for them to dry.

6) When the nail polish and whiteout are dry, take a raven-wing pen and ink pot, and write on the nail polished area of the sherd the site # and the bag #.

For example, 11S62

441-1

7) When the ink is dry, paint another layer of nail polish over the ink, and wait for it to dry.

8) Describe any rimsherds separately—if they’re large, do a diameter check on them, using the pot diameter chart found in the dirt lab. Write this information on your sheet of notebook paper, too.

9) Have Dr. Reber check your categories if you’re unsure, and replace the sherds in their original bags.

Congratulations!!