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Definition
The concept of type corresponds to the notion of roster, and that of attribute to the notion of lexicon; for further detail see the grammar.
Types are clusters of variables. For example, “dimensions” is a roster slot that allows for a number of different measurement ranges.
Attributes are the actual variants that correspond (in the case of “dimensions”) to specific ranges, e.g., large, small, etc.
One will find below an overall chart that describes the system as a whole.
Back to top: Types and attributes
System structure
The chart below outlines the overall structure of the system. Details about types are given in the following section. For details about attributes, see the pertinent section below.
| variants: attributes | ||||||||||
| variables: type | ware family | matrix | paste | porosity | firing | hardness | fracture | color inside | color outside | |
| inclusions | temper | color range | ||||||||
| manufacturing | forming techniques | exterior treatment | interior treatment | |||||||
| measurements | max wall thickness | maximum height | maximum width | weigh | volume | capacity | ||||
| shape family | proportions | closed h>w (jar) | intermediate h=w (pot) | open h<w (bowl) | ||||||
| dimensions | height range | width range | base range | |||||||
| profile | rim | neck | shoulder | base | ||||||
| appendages | handles | spouts | ||||||||
| decoration | aspect | painted | incised | excised | applied | |||||
| location | inside | outside | ||||||||
| function | generic | access | scooping | pouring | ||||||
| portability | 2 hands | 1 hand | fingers | fixed | ||||||
| specific | containment | oil | perfume | fruit | grain | |||||
| production | salt | cheese | ||||||||
| use | cooking | incense burning | ||||||||
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Details of type
| term | example | definition |
| type | bevelled rim bowl | a distinctive clustering of attributes, drawn from ware, shape and function |
| subtype | conical cup 1 | alternatives within type (e.g., same shape, alternative details of shape) see here |
| ware family | chaff tempered | a grouping of items sharing the same ware attributes see here |
| shape family | miniature vessel | a grouping of items sharing the same shape attributes see here |
| ware | fine chaff tempered | clustering of attributes pertaining to physical composition, manufacturing techniques, maximal measurements – predicated of any given sherd (see here) |
| shape | double strand lower rounded rims | clustering of attributes pertaining to proportions, profile, dimensions and appendages – predicated only of diagnostic sherds and complete vessels (see here) | function | oil jar | clustering of attributes pertaining to perception (generic function depending on how content is accessed or vessel is carried) and to use (specific function depending on what the vessel contains or serves to produce) – predicated only of complete (including reconstructible) vessels (see here) |
Back to top: Types and attributes