Early Bronze Age British Funerary Vessels: similarities and differences in manufacturing techniques and the socio-cultural implications.

负责研究英国早期青铜器时代（公元前2400-1500年）陶瓷陪葬器的制造。丧葬器皿是这一时期有关仪式、社会习俗和身份的最常见、最重要的信息来源之一。在宏观检验的基础上，辅以考古科学和实验考古学的方法，将对这些容器进行比以往更深入的研究。该项目将涉及直接使用大英博物馆收藏的丰富考古材料。过去的陶瓷研究主要关注的是记录和研究器皿的成品形式，而不是从陶工（即“连锁操作工”）的角度来研究生产过程。这些过去的研究也发现了“传统”和“类型”之间的明显区别，而最近的研究已经开始提出问题。两个看起来相同的EBA容器可能由非常不同的粘土和回火“配方”制成，并且可能使用不同的制造技术。相反，不同类型的容器可能具有共同的重要特征，如织物和装饰。这个博士项目将重点关注这些相似和差异的社会和文化含义，这可能对解释身份和随时间的变化，以及理解传统、仪式和信仰的开始和结束具有重要意义。关键的研究问题将包括，考古学家如何理解EBA殡葬船的制造过程？是否可以设计出新的、更复杂的基于构造证据和上下文的分类框架？EBA殡葬器皿的制造和处理的异同是如何用于构建和项目身份的？关于陶瓷生产技术的传播，EBA容器可以揭示什么？与中青铜器时代（MBA）相比，EBA时代的陪葬器的含义和使用情况如何？这项研究将基于大英博物馆收藏的450件完整（或修复）EBA墓葬容器的代表性样本（主要由烧杯（约120年）、食品容器（约110年）、有领瓮（约100年）和附属杯子（约90年）组成），使用宏观技术来表征织物，并识别建筑和装饰技术的证据。通过使用科学技术对更小的目标样本进行分析，将进一步加强这一点。

Undertaking of research into the manufacture of ceramic funerary vessels of the Early Bronze Age (EBA) in Britain (c.2400-1500 BC). Funerary vessels represent one of the most common and most important sources of information about ritual and social practices and identities during this period. The vessels will be studied in far greater depth than previously attempted by supplementing macroscopic examination with the methods or archaeological science and experimental archaeology. The project will involve working directly with the rich archaeological material in the collections of the British Museum.Past ceramic studies have been mainly concerned with documenting and studying the finished form of vessels rather than the production process from the perspective of the potter (i.e. the 'chaine operatoire'). These past studies also perceived clear distinctions between 'traditions' and 'types' that recent research has began to problematize. Two EBA vessels that look the same may be made from very different clay and temper 'recipes', and may use different manufacturing techniques. Conversely , vessels of different types may share important features such as fabric and decoration in common. This PhD project will focus on the social and cultural implications of these similarities and differences that may be significant for interpreting identity and transformation through time, and understanding the ends and beginnings of traditions, rituals and beliefs.Key research questions will include, how do archaeologists understand the manufacturing process of EBA funerary vessels? Can new, more sophisticated classificatory frameworks based on construction evidence and context be devised? How were similarities and differences in the manufacture and treatment of EBA funerary vessels used to construct and project identities? What can EBA vessels reveal about the transmission of ceramic production techniques? How do the meanings of and use of EBA funerary vessels compare with the use of funerary vessels in the Middle Bronze Age (MBA)?The study will be based on a representative sample of the 450 complete (or restored) EBA vessels from funerary contexts in the British Museum collection (composed primarily of Beakers (c. 120 vessels), Food Vessels (c. 110), Collared Urns (c. 100) and accessory cups (c. 90), using macroscopic techniques in order to characterise fabric, and identify evidence of construction and decoration techniques. This will be enhanced further by analysis of a smaller targeted sample using scientific techniques.