Ceramic technology and social boundaries: Cultural practices in Kalinga clay selection and use

Citation
Mt. Stark et al., Ceramic technology and social boundaries: Cultural practices in Kalinga clay selection and use, J ARCHAE M, 7(4), 2000, pp. 295-331
Citations number
111
Categorie Soggetti
Archeology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY
ISSN journal
10725369 → ACNP
Volume
7
Issue
4
Year of publication
2000
Pages
295 - 331
Database
ISI
SICI code
1072-5369(200012)7:4<295:CTASBC>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
This study examines cultural sources of variation in ceramic compositional patterning in two pottery-making villages of the highland Philippines. In D alupa, many potters are part-time specialists whereas in Dangtalan, women m ake pottery less frequently. Previous studies show that both pottery form a nd decoration correspond well with Kalinga social boundaries, but how do mo rphological and decorative patterning relate to compositional variability? Although researchers have made substantial advances in our understanding of natural and postdepositional sources of compositional variability, little is known about behavioral factors that affect chemical and mineralogical co mpositional patterning. This study examines cultural practices of clay sele ction and use in an ethnographic setting, and undertakes technical analyses to assess the relationship between behavior and material culture patternin g. Our study identified paste differences between the clays and fired ceram ics from Dangtalan and those from Dalupa. Findings from our compositional r esearch thus parallel earlier morphological and stylistic studies, and illu strate multivariate differences in ceramics from these two Kalinga communit ies. This ethnoarchaeological and analytical project contributes, therefore , to understanding objective parameters within a behavioral context. It als o provides an example of how a combined characterization approach, using ch emical and petrographic techniques, can yield insights on intraregional var iation at a finer scale of resolution than is often attempted.