I also would like to see this discussion continue; comparing data is
invaluable towards researching the material culture and we are able to do
that easily with Histarch.

Recently we have been looking at different reasons to explain  the absence
of transfer printed ceramics on the reservation.  With ~50 historic sites
spanning 18th century through 20th century there is a small amount of
transfer print compared to creamware, pearlware, etc.  My first thought was
price; however I have read that once transfer print hit the market it was
inexpensive and available to middle and lower classes.  Anyone have any
thoughts?
Roberta Charpentier
Archaeology Lab Supervisor
Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center
110 Pequot Trail
Mashantucket, CT  06339
Email:  [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Phone:  860-396-6936
Fax:  860-396-6914




        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Diana Wall [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
        Sent:   Friday, March 09, 2001 8:59 AM
        To:     [log in to unmask]
        Subject:        Re: Colorful cheap 19th century ceramics

        Hi Histarchers:

        I think that in their discussion of 19th c. ceramics Alasdair and
Ron have
        introduced a line of chat that has enormous potential for Histarch -
a way of
        comparing data informally so as to encourage further research.
Comparing
        different preferences in dish styles among the members of different
cultural
        groups  (be they class, ethnic, or whatever) situated in places and
times is
        something that I  am really interested in and I think could be
revealing
        about identity-- did you guys continue your discussion off-line? Or
just give
        up?  If, Alasdair you did become more specific off-line, could I see
some of
        your data? I have data about from assemblages from several different
groups
        in New York City throughout lots of the 19th century which I would
be more
        than happy to share either off-line or on, if anyone is interested -
most of
        which has been published somewhere or other.

        To refer back to an exchange re dishes of a month or two ago, it is
for this
        kind of comparison that I think mcd dates can be really useful,  as
they give
        a general idea (a mean of median dates of manufacture, albeit
burdened with
        assumptions) for dating when an assemblage was made and perhaps (a
big
        perhaps) acquired, and of course tpq dates can give info re when
assemblages
        were deposited in the ground.

        Diana diZerega Wall