Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-c9gpj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-13T15:43:34.120Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of Temper on Strength of Ceramics: Response to Bronitsky and Hamer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

James K. Feathers*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195

Abstract

Results of strength tests on sand- and shell-tempered ceramics reported by Bronitsky and Hamer (1986) are difficult to interpret because of flawed experimental procedures and have questionable relevance to the archaeological record. Results from an improved procedure suggest shell-tempered ceramics as produced in prehistoric southeastern Missouri were stronger and tougher than sand-tempered counterparts.

Résumé

Résumé

Los resultados de laspruebas de resistencia efectuados en los temperantes de las cerámicas, basicamente concha y arena, que han sido reportados por Bronitsky y Hamer (1986) son dificiles de interpretar, debido a que los procedimientos experimentales fueron defectuosos y ademds es cuestionable en lo que se refiere al registro arqueológico. Sin embargo, los resultados de procedimiemtos más refinados nos sugieren que la cerámica construída usando concha como temperante, durante el período Prehistórico de la región sur-oriental del estado de Missouri (E.U.A.).

Type
Comments
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Braun, D. P. 1983 Pots as Tools. In Archaeological Hammers and Theories, edited by Moore, J. A. and S. Keene, A., pp. 107134. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Bronitsky, G., and Hamer, R. 1986 Experiments in Ceramic Technology: The Effect of Various Tempering Materials on Impact and Thermal-Shock Resistance. American Antiquity 51: 89101.Google Scholar
Davidge, R. W. 1979 Mechanical Behavior of Ceramics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.Google Scholar
Davis, H. E., Troxell, G. E., and Hancock, G. F. W. 1982 The Testing of Engineering Materials. McGraw-Hill, New York.Google Scholar
Dunnell, R. C, and Feathers, J. K. 1986 Later Woodland Manifestations of the Maiden Plain, Southeastern Missouri. Paper presented at the 1986 Southeastern Archaeological Conference Annual Meeting, Nashville.Google Scholar
Edwards, W. I., and Segnit, E. R. 1984 Pottery Technology of the Chaleolithic Site of Teleilat Ghassul (Jordan). Archaeometry 26: 6977.Google Scholar
Hally, D. J. 1986 The Identification of Vessel Function: A Case Study from Northwest Georgia. American Antiquity 51: 267295.Google Scholar
London, G. 1981 Dung-tempered Clay. Journal of Field Archaeology 8: 189195.Google Scholar
Maggetti, M., and Schwab, H. 1982 Iron Age Fine Pottery from Chatillon-a-Glane and the Heuneburg. Archaeometry 24: 2136.Google Scholar
Million, M. G. 1980 The Big Lake Pottery Industry. In Zebree Archeological Project: Excavation, Data Interpretation and Report on the Zebree Homestead Site, Mississippi County, Arkansas, edited by Morse, D. F. and Morse, P. A., pp. 18.1-18.42. Arkansas Archeological Survey. Submitted to the Memphis District, U. S. Corps of Engineers, Contract No. DACW 66-76-C-0006.Google Scholar
Nance, C. R., and Mentzer, E. H. 1980 Changing Woodland Ceramic Functions and Technologies on the Northern Gulf Coastal Plain. Southeastern Archaeological Conference Bulletin 22: 5155.Google Scholar
Plog, S. 1980 Stylistic Variation in Prehistoric Ceramics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.Google Scholar
Reid, K. C. 1984 Fire and Ice: New Evidence for the Production and Preservation of Late Archaic Fiber-Tempered Pottery in the Middle Latitude Lowlands. American Antiquity 49: 5576.Google Scholar
Rye, O. S. 1976 Keeping Your Temper Under Control: Materials in the Manufacture of Papuan Pottery. Archaeology and Physical Anthropology in Oceania 11: 106137.Google Scholar
Rye, O. S. 1981 Pottery Technology. Taraxacum, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Saffer, M. 1980 Technological Analysis of Some Sapelo Island Pottery: Social and/or Functional Differences. Southeastern Archaeological Conference Bulletin 22: 3538.Google Scholar
Slavacek, C. 1968 Experiments in Aboriginal Ceramics. Bulletin of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society 16: 125150.Google Scholar
Smith, M. F. Jr., 1983 The Study of Ceramic Function from Artifact Size and Shape . Unpublished Ph. D. dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene.Google Scholar
Steponaitis, V. P. 1983 Ceramics, Chronology and Community Patterns: An Archaeological Study at Moundville. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Stimmell, C, and Arnold, C. D. 1982 A Technological Reconsideration of Thule Pottery. Paper presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar
Stimmell, C, Heimann, R. B., and Hancock, R. G. V. 1982 Indian Pottery from the Mississippi Valley: Coping with Bad Raw Materials. In Archaeological Ceramics, edited by Olin, J. S. and Franklin, A. D., pp. 219228. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D. C. Google Scholar
Tankersley, K., and Meinhart, J. 1982 Physical and Structural Properties of Ceramic Materials Utilized by a Fort Ancient Group. Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology 7:225-243.Google Scholar
Wallace, D., and Viana, C. 1982 Functional Factors in Burnishing anjd Micaceous Ware. Paper presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar
Windes, T. C. 1977 Typology and Technology and Anasazi Ceramics. In Settlement and Subsistence Along the Lower Chaco River: The CGP Survey, edited by Reher, C. A., pp. 279370. The University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar