Recording an assemblage provides data that can be interpreted; reporting presents those data and interpretations. A stable, clean, ordered and documented assemblage is essential to enable each of these stages. The level to which the assemblage will be recorded and reported on will need to be decided based on a combination of the project design and the size and character of the assemblage.
A Standard for Pottery Studies in Archaeology (PDF, Barclay et al 2016) describes basic and detailed methodologies for recording pottery assemblages. These were intended to be supported by a third recording methodology, undertaken at assessment stage, to determine the appropriate level of recording required at analysis.
The type of recording methodology deployed often relates directly to the type of report that will be written using these data. Since A Standard for Pottery Studies in Archaeology (PDF, Barclay et al 2016) was published there have been advances in recommended good practice for specialist reporting; see The Toolkit for Specialist Reporting. This Toolkit details three reporting types (see Reporting for more information):
- Type 1: Description, for relatively insignificant assemblages
- Type 2: Appraisal, where there is the potential for further work
- Type 3: Full analysis, following detailed analysis of significant assemblages
These reporting types do not directly align with the three recording types detailed in A Standard for Pottery Studies in Archaeology (PDF, Barclay et al 2016). This is particularly the case for the basic and detailed record, which may both be used for writing Type 1 or Type 3 reports. The specialist should consult with the project manager when deciding how to approach individual assemblages and mapping the recording methodology with the Toolkit report type, which should be based on a combination of the project design and the size and character of the assemblage.
This section on Recording and the section on Reporting have restructured content from sections 2.3 Assessment, 2.4 Analysis and 2.5 Reporting from A Standard for Pottery Studies in Archaeology (PDF, Barclay et al 2016) and include references throughout to the Toolkit for Specialist Reporting. It is hoped that this will help guide a specialist’s decision on recording methodology and report type.
All the pottery collected during an archaeological project.
The person who manages the project and the project team.
An individual who is competent in, and specialises in, characterising, quantifying, analysing, interpreting and reporting on pottery assemblages. A pottery specialist will have developed expertise through the extensive study of pottery, and reporting in reputable, peer reviewed sources, with a demonstrable ability to work unsupervised. Membership of a pottery study group is a valuable way of acquiring and sharing knowledge, while competence can be demonstrated through accreditation by CIfA. Both are recommended.
The document that includes a description of the scope, aims, objectives, tasks, strategies and methods of a project, the personnel involved and the timetable. This document may be called something different depending on the jurisdiction of the work, eg written scheme of investigation (WSI), method statement, programme of works, etc.
