Research Training Program

Courtney Porreca
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico

J. Daniel Rogers, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Anthropology

"The Research Training Program strengthened my analytical skills and gave me the opportunity to explore possible career choices."

Paste Composition and Vessel Function: A Case Study of Caribbean Ceramics

Archaeological ceramics provide a wealth of information about prehistoric cultures, including their technology. Prehistoric technology can also provide information on cultural traditions, lineages, and interactions, providing a broad picture of past cultures. Often the composition of the clay mixture used to make the pottery reflects technological choices made by the potter. This study examines the relationship of this mix of ingredients and the intended use of the pottery from a period of almost 2,000 years on the Caribbean island of Nevis. To examine the clay mixture, a microscope was used to view cross sections of cut pottery sherds. The larger particles were identified and counted, and the form or shape of the vessel was used to infer its function. The time period or phase from which the vessels date was also a variable. The data was then analyzed to determine the relationship, if any, between the way the pottery was made and its intended use. The results of this analysis show substantial continuity in the types and numbers of the inclusions across the different vessel functions as well as time periods. The same pattern emerged when the styles of surface treatments, for example painting or incising, were compared with the intended use of the pottery vessel. From this information, it can be concluded that the clay mixture of the ceramics from Nevis, as determined by counting the inclusions, is not directly related to either the intended function of the vessel or the decorative style. This is significant because it indicates a basic technological continuity on Nevis for almost 2,000 years despite theories of major cultural interaction due to migrations from mainland South America. Future work that would provide more insight concerning this issue might include comparisons of the clay used to make the pottery to that of raw clay samples from the island, or comparing the overall Nevis ceramic collection to collections from other Caribbean islands.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number DBI-9820303.

Letter of Gratitude