Pottery in long-distance economic inference : an investigation of methodology with reference to Roman Carthage
Pottery in long-distance economic inference : an investigation of methodology with reference to Roman Carthage
This thesis is concerned with the role of pottery in making long-distance economic inferences, and investigates the assumptions inherent in both the data and the methodology currently employed. With these same goals in view, methods for processing pottery are examined and a highly selective procedure which seeks to optimise the results in ceramic research is suggested. Investigation is based on both original data from Carthage, and published comparative data from numerous sites in both the eastern and western Mediterranean. Questions regarding sample selection and sample size are first addressed. It is concluded that if large, homogeneous deposits are selected then the sample will be representative of the pottery in circulation at a given time, even taking differing social functions of the deposits into account, and, in turn, will reflect broad economic patterns. A hierarchical classification system based on fabric, form and ware types is recommended, followed by quantification by count and weight. Questions of inter- and intra-site deposit variability are then investigated and principal components analysis is used to isolate sample size and the ratio between types as two major contributors to deposit variability. Following on from this, discriminant analysis is successfully used to distinguish deposits of the same date from different sites throughout the Mediterranean, providing a new method for deposit comparison between a large number of assemblages. Results from discriminant analysis highlight distinct groupings that reflect long-distance economic patterns. Additional investigation of pottery distribution indicates an important division between the eastern and western Mediterranean and also isolates proximity to source and competition between production centres as major determinants in pottery distribution. (DX84128)
University of Southampton
Tomber, Roberta
85f17b42-e25b-413a-b4f2-279bcc6ccacd
1988
Tomber, Roberta
85f17b42-e25b-413a-b4f2-279bcc6ccacd
Tomber, Roberta
(1988)
Pottery in long-distance economic inference : an investigation of methodology with reference to Roman Carthage.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
This thesis is concerned with the role of pottery in making long-distance economic inferences, and investigates the assumptions inherent in both the data and the methodology currently employed. With these same goals in view, methods for processing pottery are examined and a highly selective procedure which seeks to optimise the results in ceramic research is suggested. Investigation is based on both original data from Carthage, and published comparative data from numerous sites in both the eastern and western Mediterranean. Questions regarding sample selection and sample size are first addressed. It is concluded that if large, homogeneous deposits are selected then the sample will be representative of the pottery in circulation at a given time, even taking differing social functions of the deposits into account, and, in turn, will reflect broad economic patterns. A hierarchical classification system based on fabric, form and ware types is recommended, followed by quantification by count and weight. Questions of inter- and intra-site deposit variability are then investigated and principal components analysis is used to isolate sample size and the ratio between types as two major contributors to deposit variability. Following on from this, discriminant analysis is successfully used to distinguish deposits of the same date from different sites throughout the Mediterranean, providing a new method for deposit comparison between a large number of assemblages. Results from discriminant analysis highlight distinct groupings that reflect long-distance economic patterns. Additional investigation of pottery distribution indicates an important division between the eastern and western Mediterranean and also isolates proximity to source and competition between production centres as major determinants in pottery distribution. (DX84128)
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Published date: 1988
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Local EPrints ID: 460738
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/460738
PURE UUID: 32abd1e9-6c8a-4104-96ea-d41f3309cc79
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 18:28
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 18:42
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Author:
Roberta Tomber
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