Social use and value of trade ceramics : an analysis of mortuary practices in Calatagan, southwest Luzon, the Philippines
The widespread distribution of high-fired glazed ceramics from China and Mainland Southeast Asia is one of the striking features of protohistoric Philippines as evidenced in the archaeological record. They were not only an important indicator of inter-regional contact, but were also highly valued possessions in local societies, though their role is poorly understood. Thus, this thesis undertakes a theoretically-informed investigation of the social uses and value systems of imported trade ceramics vis-Ă -vis locally made earthenwares, from seven cemeteries in Calatagan, southwest Luzon, dating between the mid-15th and mid-16th centuries. In previous studies, a key problem is the assumption of trade ceramics as only representing prestige goods, in which they are treated either as categorically distinct from local earthenwares or as an undifferentiated class of material objects. This study instead examines trade ceramics and earthenwares in terms of patterns of similarity and difference in their social uses. To do so, specifically, this research sets out to investigate particular hypothesised relationships between trade ceramics and earthenwares: quantity, association, location, gradation, and imitation, as well
Chang, Kuang-jen
Institute of Archaeology
Social use and value of trade ceramics : an analysis of mortuary practices in Calatagan, southwest Luzon, the Philippines. The widespread distribution of high-fired glazed ceramics from China and Mainland Southeast Asia is one of the striking features of protohistoric Philippines as evidenced in the archaeological record. They were not only an important indicator of inter-regional contact, but were also highly valued possessions in local societies, though their role is poorly understood. Thus, this thesis undertakes a theoretically-informed investigation of the social uses and value systems of imported trade ceramics vis-Ă -vis locally made earthenwares, from seven cemeteries in Calatagan, southwest Luzon, dating between the mid-15th and mid-16th centuries. In previous studies, a key problem is the assumption of trade ceramics as only representing prestige goods, in which they are treated either as categorically distinct from local earthenwares or as an undifferentiated class of material objects. This study instead examines trade ceramics and earthenwares in terms of patterns of similarity and difference in their social uses. To do so, specifically, this research sets out to investigate particular hypothesised relationships between trade ceramics and earthenwares: quantity, association, location, gradation, and imitation, as well
social use value trade ceramic analysis mortuary_practice southwest philippines widespread_distribution high fired glazed ceramic china mainland southeast_asia striking feature protohistoric philippines evidence archaeological_record important indicator inter_regional contact also_highly value possession local_society though role poorly_understood thus undertakes theoretically informed investigation social use value system import trade ceramic vis_a_vis locally make cemetery southwest date previous_study key problem assumption trade ceramic represent prestige good treat either categorically distinct local undifferentiated class material_object study instead examine trade ceramic term pattern similarity_difference social specifically set_investigate particular hypothesise relationship trade ceramic quantity association location imitation well