Pottery from the  Ground Out Menu

James H. Pace Elon University

Instructor Helps

Archaeology is an interdisciplinary activity, so it can be related to any number of disciplines in the college curriculum. It is obviously interesting to students in the area of religious studies, especial those interested in the history behind the stories of the Bible. Even though questions of historicity of events in the Bible may be debated, familiarity with pottery helps students envision how the people in biblical times lived. History, sociology, anthropology, and economics courses can also make use of this article. Here are some sample uses:

Mastering the content of the article

1. Read carefully the section of the article about why pottery is so valuable to archaeologists. Jot down the four reasons that the author gives. Then, without looking at the article, write an explanation of these four reasons to someone who has not read it.

2. Read carefully the section of the article that describes the eight stages of the pottery process. Jot down the stages in order as you read. Next mix up the stages and throw away the list that contains the correct order of the stages. Then unscramble the eight stages of the pottery process, place them in the correct order in should occur, and explain them in writing them to someone who has not read the article. 

3. Reread the article and write definitions of the key terms as they appear.

4. Write page explaining what the major point of the article is and how the author makes that point.

Using the article to learn more

1. Go to the library and find more about the newer, scientific methods of studying pottery.

2. Go to the library and find what contributions Flinders Petrie and William F. Albright made to the study of pottery? 

3. Write a short research paper on what pottery reveals about trade in the ancient world.

4. Write a short essay on how pottery was made in the ancient Near East.

5. Write a short essay on the uses of pottery in the ancient Near East.

6. Write a research paper explaining how pottery styles changed from one period to another in the ancient Near East.

7. Find out what pottery reveals about religion in the ancient Near East. 

8. What does the Bible say about pottery?

9. Compare and contrast an Israelite and a Roman pot.

• Download outline in Word 2000 format

James H. Pace
Email: pacejim@elon.edu