Module 3 (10.1): Ceramics Flashcards
what kind of societies are ceramics associated with?
sedentary and agricultural societies
ceramics are the ____ most widespread technology in the past
2nd, next to lithics (stone tools)
what defines a ceramic?
water, clay, and temper
what is temper?
inclusions added to the clay that facilitates the drying and firing process, keeps the clay together preventing cracks
what is a ceramic fragment called?
-> a sherd
what are the steps to making a ceramic?
1) extract the clay, mix it with temper and water
2) fashion the ceramics (wheel-thrown/hand-thrown/molds)
3) fire the clay (open/closed)
4) OPTIONAL: surface treatment
what is the purpose of surface treatment?
decorations, helps make the pots impermeable and non-porous
what are common uses for ceramics?
-> art
-> containers for food
-> commodities (bricks, roof tiles)
who made the earliest ceramics? why is this surprising?
- hunter-gatherer groups , surprising because ceramics are heavy and fragile to carry around
what were upper paleolithic ceramics? what were they used for?
Gravettian figurines (non-utilitarian, for artistic purposes)
where was the first pottery found?
Xianrendong, China (utilitarian, used for cooking)
what is the difference between ceramics and pottery?
-> pottery is a subset of ceramics
-> pottery is specifically made from clay and fired, ceramics can be made from various materials (porcelain)
what were some of the earliest uses of pottery? who made them?
-> mostly for food preparation or storage
-> hunter-gatherers made them
