An Excel spreadsheet - referred to as a class spreadsheet - is created for the class or sub-class and a record created in the spreadsheet’s main worksheet for each of the numbered fragments.
Rim, base, handle, and body fragments that cannot be assigned to a specific form – in most cases because they preserve only a small portion of the profile of the vessel to which they belonged – are assigned to a vessel part type (either rim type, base type, handle, or body type).Įach rim, base, and handle fragment and other fragments that bear a feature of particular interest (a maker’s stamp, graffito, dipinto/ titulus pictus, noteworthy element of decoration, noteworthy feature indicative of manufacturing technique, repair or other noteworthy instance of use alteration) is assigned a working number that is written on the fragment in pencil or marker pen that is referred to as a PN number. The materials in the class or in each sub-class are assigned to a specific form to the extent that this is possible. The set of materials assigned to the class question is evaluated for fabric and divided into multiple sub-classes on the basis of this attribute when two or more fabrics are present.Ī set of forms is defined for the class or for each of the sub-classes represented, with this operation based to the extent possible on form typologies extant in the literature. The study of each class involves the following operations: In the interest of providing a concise representation of the larger picture it glosses over a substantial amount of detail on various points, deferring to the sections that follow the in-depth consideration of these.Īt the outset of the project in 2001 the site pottery assemblage was divided into classes (wares) in accordance with the broadly-held conceptualization of these expressed in the literature, and various individuals charged with responsibility for the study of either a single class or a set of related classes. This section provides a rapid overview of the methods that PEPP is employing for its work.
Some sections of this document provide only a provisional or preliminary description of the study methods or web page with which they are concerned, and these will be revised and/or expanded as the study of the materials and the on-line presentation of results advance. This document describes the methods that PEPP is employing for the description and quantification of the Palatine East pottery assemblage and for the on-line presentation of project results.īasic analytical categories that have a specific definition as employed by PEPP are rendered in bolded italics at the point of their definition.