Hmmm, the site is in San Diego County...

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Branstner" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 11:40 AM
Subject: Re: split ceramics


> Susan,
>
> I don't know what part of the country that you're working in, but
> "frost spalling" is a relatively common phenomenon ...
>
> Essentially, moisture gets into the porous fabric of the pottery and
> it splits the pottery when it freezes during the winter.  It
> certainly does not happen all the time, but it does occur with some
> regularity.  Sometimes just the glaze spalls off the fabric, but the
> fabric itself can split.
>
> Mark
>
>
>>Nov. 10, 2010
>>
>>Hello all,
>>
>>I have a site with several sherds of transferware that are split so
>>that there is a transferware / glazed surface on one side and the
>>paste interior on the other side.
>>
>>This makes them about 1/8 inch thick.  They tend to be about 1 inch
>>long, and about 3/4 inch wide.
>>
>>The edges are not shaped; in "plan" view the pieces are
>>miscellaneously trapezoidal.
>>
>>In appearance they somewhat remind me of porcelain pin
>>trays/childrens toy tea trays that are decorated and glazed on the
>>top and bisque on the bottom, except these transfer pieces are not
>>smoothly finished on the bottom ("bisque") like the porcelain items
>>are.
>>
>>I do not think these were made intentionally.
>>
>>I've not seen so many of these at one site before.  Has anyone
>>knowledge of what did this?
>>
>>Thanks every one,
>>
>>S. Walter
>
>
> -- 
>
> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
> Historic Archaeologist
>
> Illinois State Archaeological Survey
> Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability
> University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
> 209 Nuclear Physics Lab, MC-571
> 23 East Stadium Drive
> Champaign, IL 61820
>
> Phone: 217.244.0892
> Fax: 217.244.7458
> Cell: 517.927.4556
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
> When you think of that perfect retort five minutes after the
> conversation is over -  that's when you're:
>
>  "... bursting with the belated eloquence of the inarticulate ..."
>
> Edith Wharton in the "The Age of Innocence"


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