Aspects of Tiv Pottery: Present and Past

Abstract

Aspects of present-day pottery were studied in some Tiv compounds or hamlets, with a view to using such data to clarify our understanding of Tiv social life in ancient times. The present-day vessel types appeared to match, in terms of morphology and function, the archaeological pottery which has been excavated and reconstructed. However, it is likely that some changes in function must have taken place through time, since culture as a whole is dynamic. The method of clay preparation which involves trading upon the mass of clay invariable leads to quartz particles being incorporated into the clay. The quartz particles cannot be separated from temper that was intentionally added to reduce clay plasticity. The level of expertise of each potter, especially with regard to handling clay, may give the archaeologist a wrong picture when trying to reconstruct past pottery. For example, a gbande pot which is normally thin-walled may become a thick-walled vessel by a learner potter or a dabbler.