Reconstructing Reconstructing Pots-Pots-Reconstructing Reconstructing Lives:Lives:Analysis and Reconstruction Analysis and Reconstruction of Ancient Ceramics from of Ancient Ceramics from EcuadorEcuador

Our PotteryOur Pottery

PurposePurpose

To analyze ceramics from To analyze ceramics from the Guangala civilization the Guangala civilization to determine the to determine the likelihood that chicha likelihood that chicha production, storage, and production, storage, and use were an integral part use were an integral part of daily life.of daily life.

To obtain a To obtain a representation of vessel representation of vessel types and sizes used for types and sizes used for chicha in prehistoric chicha in prehistoric Ecuadorian households.Ecuadorian households.

Chicha was a light alcoholic beverage

similar to beer that is currently consumed at festivals and in home

use.

SignificanceSignificance

Premise of archaeologyPremise of archaeology Human behavior is Human behavior is

patternedpatterned Patterns reflect Patterns reflect

cultural traditionscultural traditions Goal of observationsGoal of observations

Identify patterns in Identify patterns in material remains to material remains to determine past determine past behaviors and behaviors and activitiesactivities

Relate past practices Relate past practices to present dayto present day

VocabularyVocabulary

Artifact – an object Artifact – an object produced or shaped produced or shaped by human craftby human craft

Sherd – fragment of a Sherd – fragment of a pottery vesselpottery vessel

AssociationAssociation

Bowl – low height, Bowl – low height, comparably wide diametercomparably wide diameter Our society—serving foodOur society—serving food Ecuadorian society—Ecuadorian society—

serving beveragesserving beverages Jar – high height, Jar – high height,

comparably narrow comparably narrow diameterdiameter Our society—storageOur society—storage Ecuadorian society—Ecuadorian society—

storagestorage

HistoryHistory

Time Period Early Guangala

(100 B.C. - A.D. 50)

Middle Guangala (A.D. 50 - 650)

Late Guangala (A.D. 650 – 800)

GeographyGeography

How Chicha is MadeHow Chicha is Made

MaterialsMaterials Plants such as Plants such as

yucca, corn, or yucca, corn, or berriesberries

SalivaSaliva VesselsVessels

CookingCooking Mash vegetable Mash vegetable

productproduct Chew the mixtureChew the mixture Cook in potCook in pot FermentFerment

Functional AnalysisFunctional Analysis

Three main sources of data were used Three main sources of data were used to determine vessel function:to determine vessel function:

1.1. Observations on ceramicsObservations on ceramicsMetric analysisMetric analysisTechnological analysisTechnological analysisUse wearUse wear

2.2. Comparative analysisComparative analysisEthnological literatureEthnological literature

3.3. Context in which ceramics are Context in which ceramics are foundfound

Observations on Observations on CeramicsCeramics

Medial Angle

Aperture

Rim

Base

Body

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Metric AnalysisMetric Analysis

Metric analysis – Metric analysis – studied the studied the measurements of our measurements of our pots pots Used wall Used wall

thickness, volume, thickness, volume, and apertureand aperture

Determined Determined capacitycapacity

Later looked at Later looked at comparative comparative analysisanalysis

Technology (AutoCAD)Technology (AutoCAD)

Reconstructed Reconstructed models of pots models of pots from partial from partial vesselsvessels

Used these shapes Used these shapes to estimate vessel to estimate vessel measurementsmeasurements http://www.monografias.com/trabajos12/autocad/

autocad.shtml

AutoCAD ProgressAutoCAD Progress

Mineralogy, Mineralogy, Crystallography, and Crystallography, and

PetrologyPetrology Mineralogy – study of Mineralogy – study of

mineralsminerals DistributionDistribution IdentificationIdentification PropertiesProperties

Crystallography – Crystallography – study of the forms study of the forms and structures of and structures of crystals crystals

Petrology – branch of Petrology – branch of geology involving:geology involving: OriginOrigin CompositionComposition StructureStructure

Microscopy: The ProcessMicroscopy: The Process

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Grp 1 Grp2-Orng

Grp 2-Gray

Grp 3

% Coarse

% Fine

% Void

Porosity TestsPorosity Tests

Obtained samplesObtained samples Weight and water Weight and water

absorptionabsorption Heated sherdsHeated sherds Placed each in Placed each in

waterwater Found additional Found additional

weight weight measurements measurements

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Gro

up 1

Gro

up 2

-ora

nge

Gro

up 2

-gra

y

Gro

up 3

% Apparent Porosity

Comparative AnalysisComparative Analysis

Types of vesselsTypes of vessels Mashing dish: wide, shallow, Mashing dish: wide, shallow,

scratchesscratches Cooking pot: porous, coarse, thin-Cooking pot: porous, coarse, thin-

walled, small rim, wide body, burn walled, small rim, wide body, burn marks marks

Storage pot: tall, wide rimStorage pot: tall, wide rim Serving bowl: decorated, small, Serving bowl: decorated, small,

open topopen top

The Archaeologist’s Laboratory

Height to Diameter Ratio

Dish: 1/5-1/3

Bowl: 1/3-1

Jar: >1

DeBoer

DeBoer

ConclusionsConclusions

Use of chicha probableUse of chicha probable Evidence from 11 of 13 piecesEvidence from 11 of 13 pieces

Use-Wear Analysis Use-Wear Analysis Ratio (Height: Diameter)Ratio (Height: Diameter) Capacity Capacity CompositionComposition

Residue analysis will be required to Residue analysis will be required to confirm our research.confirm our research.

The EndThe End