Ceramic Production in the American Southwest [Hardcover]

Barbara J. Mills (Author), Patricia L. Crown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

Southwestern ceramics have always been admired for their variety and aesthetic beauty. Although ceramics are most often used for placing the peoples who produced them in time, they can also provide important clues to past economic organization. This volume covers nearly 1000 years of southwestern prehistory and history, focusing on ceramic production in a number of environmental and economic contexts. It brings together the best of current research to illustrate the variation in the organization of production evident in this single geographic area. The contributors use diverse research methods in their studies of vessel form and decoration. All support the conclusion that the specialized production of ceramics for exchange beyond the household was widespread. The first seven chapters focus on ceramic production in specific regions, followed by three essays that re-examine basic concepts and offer new perspectives. Because previous studies of southwestern ceramics have focused more on distribution than production, Ceramic Production in the American Southwest fills a long-felt need for scholars in that region and offers a broad-based perspective unique in the literature. The Southwest lacked high levels of sociopolitical complexity and economic differentiation, making this volume of special interest to scholars working in similar contexts and to those interested in craft production.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This volume is strong from cover to cover, and the editors should be congratulated for assembling such a fine group of authors. What makes these articles especially interesting is that many of the researchers (e.g., Abbott, Crown, Hegmon, Wilson, Blinman, and Mills) have a long-standing interest in their particular area which enables them to draw from years of research and to use multiple lines of evidence in their arguments." —James M. Skibo, American Anthropologist

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

Southwestern ceramics have always been admired for their variety and aesthetic beauty. Although ceramics are most often used for placing the peoples who produced them in time, they can also provide important clues to past economic organization. This volume covers nearly 1000 years of southwestern prehistory and history, focusing on ceramic production in a number of environmental and economic contexts. It brings together the best of current research to illustrate the variation in the organization of production evident in this single geographic area. The contributors use diverse research methods in their studies of vessel form and decoration. All support the conclusion that the specialized production of ceramics for exchange beyond the household was widespread. The first seven chapters focus on ceramic production in specific regions, followed by three essays that re-examine basic concepts and offer new perspectives. Because previous studies of southwestern ceramics have focused more on distribution than production, Ceramic Production in the American Southwest fills a long-felt need for scholars in that region and offers a broad-based perspective unique in the literature. The Southwest lacked high levels of sociopolitical complexity and economic differentiation, making this volume of special interest to scholars working in similar contexts and to those interested in craft production.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: University of Arizona Press; First Edition edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816515085
• ISBN-13: 978-0816515080
• Product Dimensions: 312 x 9 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,034,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hip New Thing in Old Pots, May 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ceramic Production in the American Southwest (Paperback)

I recently had a conversation with a vetern professor of archaeology. He's a brilliant wealth of information, and he doesn't use the word "hip" too often. So when he described this book as "The 'hip' new thing in archaeology," I was a bit taken back. He turned over a copy, and I fell in love with it that night. Using his word, I'm going to continue to decribe this book as "hip," - here's why. It takes the format of a compilation of articles written by some of the leading professionals in the field. By formatting it in this way, the editors have provided a concise and detailed overview of new technologies that have helped archaeologists understand prehistoric behavior in the southwest. It is an absolutely necessary piece of literature, as it could be considered the jumping-off point for those interested in using high-technology to study ceramics. I would recomend the book to anyone who is interested in the science of archaeology and indian pottery. But if you decide to read it, don't expect an "Indiana Jones" type theme. It is very technical, and it is highly doubtful that the authors and editors had a popular audience in mind when they wrote it. But if you think you can take a heavy dose of science, then open wide and read it.