It is important to re-emphasize that stylistic ceramic analysis is multi-faceted and is conducted from diverse theoretical perspectives. The only consistent factor is that stylistic analysis is not primarily concerned with the chemical or physical properties of the ceramic material itself (although even such data are sometimes connected with stylistic data at the interpretive stage). There have been many different analysis methods championed by their practitioners, and methods are often not easily transferable between regions due to the nature of pre-existing data. A few of the possible research objectives and associated ceramic analysis methods have been discussed here in order to illustrate variety within the field; this is by no means exhaustive. In fact, ceramic analysis approaches and methods are continually undergoing reinvention, especially with regard to new opportunities made possible by new technologies.
Within diverse research communities, stylistic analysis itself has fluctuated in popularity. With pottery fragments such an abundant resource, however, ceramic analysis by whatever name remains an obvious avenue for understanding the past. No matter how theoretical paradigms may fluctuate, a basic level of primary data analysis is essential as a foundation for higher level explanations.
See also: Ceramics and Pottery; Classification and Typology; Culture, Concept and Definitions; Image and Symbol; Pottery Analysis: Chemical; Petrology and Thin-Section Analysis; Seriation; Statistics in Archaeology; Vitreous Materials Analysis.
World History
