Ref ID:	29021
Ref Type:	Journal Article
Authors:	Hirshman, Amy J. Lovis, William A. Pollard, Helen P.
Title:	Specialization of ceramic production: a sherd assemblage based analytical perspective
Date:	2010
Source:	Journal of Anthropological Archaeology
DOI:	10.1016/j.jaa.2010.03.003
Abstract:	One expectation of emergent complexity is that as ceramic craft specialization increases it is reflected by increasingly homogeneous products due to the modified organization of craft production by specialists. This question has most often been addressed by analysis of sub-sets of larger ceramic assemblages consisting of intact vessels from idiosyncratic contexts. However, excavations often do not yield appropriate whole vessel sub-sets. In order to evaluate the changing context of the organization of ceramic production, we engage a robust methodological approach to the analysis of ceramic sherd assemblages, rather than intact vessels, rooted in cluster analysis but which we rigorously evaluate by other means. We successfully employ this method to assess changes in the organization of ceramic production through a 1000 year sequence leading to the emergence of the Tarascan state, and conclude in this case that no significant reorganization of ceramic production occurred with Tarascan state formation.
Date Created:	10/6/2010
Volume:	29
Page Start:	265
Page End:	277