Cotsen Institute of Archaeology
Navigate:   Home >> Research >> Labs & Archives


Can't view the menu? Click here.




FEATURED TITLE:

Roman Footprints at Berenike: Archaeobotanical Evidence of Subsistence and Trade in the Eastern Desert of Egypt

This book presents the results of the archaeobotanical research of the Roman deposits. It is shown that the study of a transit port such as Berenike, located at the southeastern fringe of the Roman Empire, is highly effective in producing new information on the import of all kinds of luxury items.

Available Now!

Join our new Publications e-mail list for discounts! To learn more, click here.



Pajarito Archaeological Research Project (PARP) Ceramics Photography


Fig. 1
   
Fig. 2

The Pajarito Archaeological Research Project (PARP) led by the late Dr. James N. Hill during 1977 to 1981, was an extensive field survey in the Pajarito Plateau, in north-central New Mexico (Four Corners area of the Western U.S) that was the homeland of the Anasazi. While the vast majority of objects collected were on the surface, a number of test pits were excavated as well. This collection has been stored at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology in cardboard boxes.

Ceramic sherds represent a major component of the artifact collection. Generally they have maximum dimensions ranging between one-half and 10 centimeters. There are also lithics and other artifacts. Because the collection must eventually be returned to the Four Corners area, and to honor Dr. Hill for his herculean effort on this project, it was decided to record selected samples from the ceramic collection in digital photographs. The ceramics had previously been separated into bags identified by pottery type and site in the survey grid, and in the case of the test pits also by level. Examples of every identified pottery type from each site/level are being photographed. To date no whole pots have been found in the collection. There are approximately 170 boxes of ceramics, and to date 25 have been photographed - over 3,000 photographs.


Fig. 3
   
Fig. 4

There are two basic types of pottery: corrugated and painted. The more abundant corrugated has exterior color ranging between light tan to almost black. Some corrugated ware has surface texture in linear forms (Fig. 1) while other has various "shingle" (Fig. 2) and dent (Fig. 3) patterns. Also classified as corrugated is pottery that has a rough textured surface (Fig. 4) without any particular pattern. The small scale divisions in all the photos are millimeters.


Fig. 5a
   
Fig. 5b

The painted pottery is of two general types: some colored in tones of light/pale gray to ivory (with and without black decorations). Many of the light gray examples are classified as Santa Fe or Santa Fe/Wiyo (Figs. 5a [body] and 5b [rims]), while others are classified as Biscuit A (Fig. 6 [body]) and Biscuit B (Fig. 7 [rims]), which tend to be more ivory colored. The other major painted sub-category is identified as Glazed (Fig. 8, jars) with colors in a range of red tones (both with and without black decorations and sometimes with a highly polished surface).


Fig. 6
   
Fig. 7


Fig. 8

A few sherds have been worked as tools (Fig. 9a, 9b, Santa Fe bowl body, both sides) while others have carefully drilled circular holes (Fig 10a, 10b, Santa Fe/Wiyo, both sides, an unusual example in that there are 2 drilled holes). In addition to many rims, there are a few special shapes including parts of jar handles (Fig. 11a, 11b, painted, 2 views) and pointed or rounded appliquéd "bumps" (Fig. 12a, 12b, painted, 2 views).


Fig. 9a
   
Fig. 9b

Fig. 10a
   

Fig. 10b

Fig. 11a
   

Fig. 11b




Copyright © 2004-2006 Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. All rights reserved.
Comments? E-mail ioaweb@ioa.ucla.edu