Janice,

Sounds like you have a treasure!  How lucky!

I've had several Chinese sites in San Diego County.  For me, large numbers
of complete Chinese brownware vessels is rare.  The most common items whole
were liquor bottles and spouted bottles.  Next to that would be wide mouth
globular jars.  I've never had a complete large vessel.  I've had complete
smaller lids.

There are other sites I haven't participated in here in San Diego County,
notably those located in the downtown area in or near the old Chinatown.  I
believe there were many complete vessels from them.

S. Walter
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Janice Adamson" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 10:18 PM
Subject: Chinese ceramics


> Hi,
> I am working on an assemblage of Chinese ceramics from a late 19th century
> Chinese market garden site in Auckland, New Zealand.  Priscilla Wegars
> suggested I put my query to her on HistArch.
>
> Many of the Chinese brown glazed stoneware vessels are complete and
> undamaged, with many more with only minor damage.  From one large feature
> alone 31 complete (undamaged) liquor bottles, 27 spouted jars as well as
> shouldered food jars.  More vessels have minor damage, catalogued as rim
> chips etc.
>
> I am trying to gauge the significance of the site in terms of the material
> culture - although there doesn't seem to be much in the way of new vessel
> forms, the number of complete vessels seems to be unusual.  Is this the
case
> or are there other assemblages out there that have had lots of complete
> Chinese vessels?
>
> I don't have access to many of the archaeological reports that have come
out
> of the U.S., and those reports I have read either don't state the
> completeness of a vessel (in which case I assume vessel count has been
based
> on counting tops/bases etc.), or comment on the fragmented nature of the
> material.
>
> I would be interested to get people's feedback on this, either on or off
list.
> Thanks,
> Janice