Tich Matek: The technology of Luo pottery production and the definition of ceramic style

Dietler, Michael; Herbich, Ingrid

doi:10.1080/00438243.1989.9980096

Cited by 86 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Many of the critical voices now emerging in eastern Africa reference ethnoarchaeological research in support of this conundrum (e.g., Karega-Mũnene 2003;Lane 2004; see also Wandibba 2003); since Hodder's (1982) pioneering work, it is evident that artefacts are not passive objects mutely reflecting a defined identity-they are active agents existing in a complex network of competing social, economic and political influences. Dietler and Herbich (1989 for example, working in the Great Lakes themselves, have demonstrated how ceramic style is an indicator not of communal, or even linguistic identity, but rather is a reflection of intra-household discourse. The simple equation of pots and people no longer stands.…”

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confidence: 97%

Towards a Socialised Archaeology of Ceramics in Great Lakes Africa

Ashley

2010

Afr Archaeol Rev

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This paper presents results of recent research in Kenya and Uganda on ceramics from the first and early to mid second millennia AD. Whereas previous research has tended to emphasise the role of ceramics as chronological tools, or as an index of past ethno-linguistic identity, this paper will emphasise the role of ceramics as functioning tools. Combining archive and published data with new results from fieldwork, the evidence presented here demonstrates continuity of settlement in the Victoria Nyanza region between first millennium Urewe users and second millennium Transitional Urewe and Entebbe ceramics, and the emergence of specialist lacustrine communities. The changing nature of ceramics over this time span is compared with evidence from historical linguistics to suggest a shift in social authority from the family home to the wider community in the second millennium, and the growing influence of economic wealth or individual leadership.Résumée Cet article présente les résultats d'une étude récente au Kenya et en Ouganda sur la céramique datant du premier jusqu'au milieu du deuxième millénnaire A.D. Contrairement aux études précédentes qui ont eu tendance à privilégier le rôle des céramiques en tant qu'outils chronologiques ou indices d'indentité ethno-linguistique, cet essai mettra l'accent sur leur aspect fonctionnel. Se basant sur des recherches d'archives amplifiées de données publiées et d'autres provenant de travail de terrain, les faits présentés ici démontrent la continuité de l'occupation humaine dans la région de Victoria Nyanza entre les utilisateurs de poterie Urewe du premier millénnaire et les céramiques transitionnelles Urewe et Entebe du deuxième millénnaire, et l'émergence des communautés lacustres spécialistes. Les transformations observées dans la nature de la céramique sont comparées avec des données de linguistique historique. Elles suggèrent un

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confidence: 97%

Towards a Socialised Archaeology of Ceramics in Great Lakes Africa

Ashley

2010

Afr Archaeol Rev

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“…Although the use of ceramic decorations as a sole form of analytical criterion has been criticized as a poor technique by which a cultural seriation is constructed (Dietler and Herbich, 1989;Hodder, 1977), its usefulness as a method of culture historical reconstruction in conjunction with other data is also widely understood (Bower et al, 1977;David, 1982;Garlake, 1968;Hall, 1984;Hole, 1984;Kingery, 1981;Mercader et al, 2000;Ndong, 2002;Rice, 1987;Soper, 1989;Wandibba, 1980Wandibba, , 1990. I present an interpretation of East African ceramic decorations below that is independent of other forms of ceramic analysis (such as attribute analysis) only to demonstrate the continuity of certain cultural ideas through time and space as represented through artistic expression on pottery.…”

Section: Ceramic Motifs As An Indicator Of Prehistoric Kin-based Allimentioning

confidence: 99%

New Perspectives on Early Regional Interaction Networks of East African Trade: A View from Tsavo National Park, Kenya

Wright

2005

Afr Archaeol Rev

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Archaeologists are interested in understanding whether cross-cultural contact catalyzed by exchange of commodities is a means for people to acquire new technology and cultural ideas. This paper reports the results and analysis of archaeological investigations in Tsavo NationalPark, Kenya in 2001 and 2004 that have recovered evidence of indirect contact between late pastoral neolithic (PN) herders and early iron working (EIW) communities. Analysis of stylistic motifs on ceramics used by both PN and EIW people show that socially constructed notions of aesthetics are similar, implying that a strong cultural connection between the two groups may be possible. New lexico-statistical analyses and archaeological data from Tanzania corroborate that the prehistoric East African milieu was more complex than previously believed. However, pastoralists in Tsavo show no evidence of utilizing iron technology or altering their subsistence strategies among the >10,000 artifacts spanning 4,000+ years of prehistory recovered in the 2001 field season. Thus, long-distance and long-term contact between socially connected groups possessing different technological and subsistence foundations does not necessarily lead to a diffusion of new survival strategies. Les archéologues sont intéressésà comprendre la diffusion technologique et culturelle préhistorique [Les archeologues se sont interestes a comprendre la diffusion prehistorique de la technologie et de la culture]. Le contact entre les cultures catalysées par l'échange des produits est des moyens pour que les personnes acquièrent la nouvelle technologie et les idées culturelles. Cependant, le point auquel certaines idées sont acceptées ou rejetées demeure irrésolu. [Quand le contact contre-culturelle s'allie avec l'exchange de produits, les deux fournissent les nouvelles idees culturelles et technologiques aux gens. Mais, le point d D'autres 111 0263-0338/05/0900-0111/0 C 2005 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 112 Wright données sont nécessaires pour augmenter nos compréhension de l'échange des idées entre les groupes de personnes et comment des changements de technologie. Les investigations archéologiques en parc national de Tsavo, Kenya dans 2001 ont récupéré l'évidence du contact indirect entre les bouviers néolithiques pastoraux (PN) en retard et les premières communautés du fondre de fer (EIW). L'analyse des motifs stylistiques sur la céramique utiliser par des personnes de PN et d'EIW prouvent que les notions socialement construites de l'esthétique sont semblables, impliquant qu'un raccordement culturel fort entre les deux groupes peutêtre possible. Les nouvelles analyses lexico-statistiques et les données archéologiques de Tanzanie corroborent que le milieu africain est préhistoriqueétait plus complexe que précédemment cru. Cependant, les bouviers préhistorique dans Tsavo ne montrent aucuneévidence d'utiliser la technologie de fer ou de changer leurs stratégies de subsistance parmi les >10.000 objets façonnés enjambant les années 4.000+ de la préhistoire récupérées dans la...

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“…This subfield blossomed in Africa in the 1980s, providing ethnographic models of material culture use that could be applied to the archaeological record (Hodder 1982;Schmidt 1983). However, like the topics of urbanism or food and craft production, early ethnoarchaeology in Africa was aimed primarily at broader theoretical concerns, even while local histories were drawn out (Hodder 1982;Herbich 1987;Dietler & Herbich 1989; see also David & Kramer 2001). For example, ethnoarchaeology was crucial to the symbolic interpretations of both iron production in the Early Iron Age (Schmidt 1978) and the use of pottery (David et al 1988).…”

Section: Archaeology and Historical Linguistics: A Shared Pastmentioning

confidence: 99%