Melissa started following the work of Sheldon Baker.
Melissa started following the work of Elizabeth Klarich, Smith College, Anthropology.
Melissa started following the work of Sheila Kohring, University of Cambridge, Archaeology.
Department Member, Classics
About
I am an archaeologist specializing in prehistoric pottery technology. My doctoral research used pottery style and technology to examine the introduction of closed (kiln) firing technologies during the Inca to Spanish Colonial transition in Cuzco, Peru. My approach to studying pottery utilizes bulk chemistry, petrography, microstructure analysis, materials science, and replication studies to explore the dynamic role of technology in state formation and culture contact.
With my research group, the Clay Technology Lab, I continue addressing the development of pottery firing techniques (Chavín, Peru; Durham, England), adaptive clay formulations (Cuzco, Peru), and the development of cooking pots (Çatalhöyük, Turkey) as seen through performance characteristics of the clays. My work and collaborations examines the practical knowledge that emerges from the craftsperson-clay material relationship and how the interaction fuels creativity and innovation.
Contact Information
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