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Marginalized Potters and Ceramic Compositional Groups: Neutron Activation Analysis of Contemporary Pottery from Tigray, Northern Highland Ethiopia

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Abstract

The study presents the results of neutron activation analysis (NAA) of contemporary pottery from Tigray Regional State, northern highland Ethiopia. This is the first regional-scale study of ceramic composition of Tigray’s pottery and is part of an ethnoarchaeological study of the material and social contexts of pottery production and consumption in Tigray’s Eastern (Misraqawi), Central (Mehakelegnaw), and North-western (Semien Mi’irabawi) zones. The analysis identifies clear compositional groups with strong regional patterns, an encouraging result for the use of NAA to study Tigray’s ancient pottery trade. Significantly, the study further contributes to discussions of how mutually constituted social identities of potters and consumers affect compositional patterning in the distribution of pottery in market networks.

Résumé

L’étude présente les résultats de neutron activation analysis (NAA) de la poterie contemporaine de l’État régional de Tigray, dans les hautes terres du nord de l’Éthiopie. Ceci est la première étude régionale de la composition céramique de la poterie du Tigray et fait partie d’une étude ethnoarchéologique des contextes matériels et sociaux de la production et de la consommation de poteries dans le Tigray oriental (Misraqawi), central (Mehakelegnaw) et nord-ouest (Semien Mi ‘irabawi) zones. L’analyze identifie des groupes de composition clairs avec des modèles régionaux forts, un résultat encourageant pour l’utilization du NAA pour étudier le commerce de la poterie ancienne de Tigray. De manière significative, l’étude contribue également aux discussions sur la façon dont les identités sociales mutuellement constituées des potiers et des consommateurs affectent la structuration de la composition de la poterie dans les réseaux de marché.

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Acknowledgements

This project is indebted to the generosity of potters, farmers, merchants, and village administrators of Selekeleka, Akatsl, Ebalay, Dershan, Yeha, Gendebta, Adinfas, Adi Keshi, Adwa, Adi Ayfela, Adi Geba, Angohl, Aba Makreita, Daga, Hadush Adi, and Adi Mariam who participated in our study and contributed to our knowledge of pottery production and consumption in Tigray. Funding for this project was provided by Wenner-Gren Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Grants 7934, 8449, 8956; National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration Grant #9065-12; a University of Calgary Research Grant, a Killam Foundation Enhancement Grant; the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship MA Scholarship 766-2010-0317); University of South Carolina and the Walker Institute. We gratefully acknowledge the generous support and permission to conduct this research that was provided by the Ethiopian Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH) in Addis Ababa; the National Regional State of Tigrai Tourism Bureau in Mekelle; the Geological Survey of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa; and Woreda offices in Tahtai Maichow, Wukro Maray, Mezaba Zana, Shire, Adwa, Sinkata, and Tabia chairs for Mai Maghelta, Hadush Adi, Marium Agamat, Ra Ilhe, Yeha, Gendebta, Selekeleka, Hafken, and Lemate. Special thanks to Michael Sowbeka, Temesgen Tadese, Tedros Girmay, Mulubrhan G/Sellassie, Degol Fissahaye, Daniel G/Kidane, Goitum Fitsom, Atakilte G/Tsedik, Zelealem Tesfay G/Tsedik, and ARCCH field inspectors Gezahegne Girma and Degene Dandena Gulti. We thank Dr. Temesgen Burka (Addis Ababa U.), Dr. Andrea Freeman (U. Calgary), Dr. Bula Wayessa (SUNY New Paltz), Getachew Nigus (U. Calgary), and Diane Caird (XRD Lab, U. Alberta). Dr. Michael Glascock (MURR) and his team provided advice that was critical to the success of this project. We thank Dr. Matthew Boulanger for his comments and Fig. 15, and Kees de Ridder for the French abstract. The authors appreciate and thank the anonymous reviewers whose comments contributed to this paper.

Funding

Diane Lyons received research grants from the Wenner-Gren Foundation Post-Doctoral Research Grants (7934, 8449, 8956), the National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration Grant 9065-12, The University of Calgary Research Grant, and a Killam Foundation Enhancement Grant.

Diana Harlow’s research was funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship MA Scholarship 766-2010-0317).

Joanna Casey was funded by grants from the University of South Carolina and the Walker Institute.

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This research was conducted under ethics certificates issued by the Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board of the University of Calgary. Information was obtained with the informed and voluntary consent of all participants in the project. Permits to conduct research were obtained from the Ethiopian Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH) in Addis Ababa, the National Regional State of Tigrai Tourism Bureau in Mekelle, the Geological Survey of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, and Woreda offices in Tahtai Maichow, Wukro Maray, Mezaba Zana, Enda Selassie (Shire), Adwa, Sinkata, and Tabia chairs for Mai Maghelta, Hadush Adi, Marium Agamat, Ra Ilhe, Yeha, Gendebta, Selekeleka, Hafken, and Lemate.

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Lyons, D., Ferguson, J., Harlow, D. et al. Marginalized Potters and Ceramic Compositional Groups: Neutron Activation Analysis of Contemporary Pottery from Tigray, Northern Highland Ethiopia. Afr Archaeol Rev 35, 567–595 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-018-9311-5

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