Studying the Forms of Ancient Ware: Theoretical and Practical Aspects1

The methodology of studying the form of ancient earthen vessels, based on approaches suggested by G.D. Birkhoff, A.O. Shepard, H.-Å. Nordström, and others, is discussed with reference to the transitional Late Bronze/Early Iron Age ceramics from Western Siberian sites: Linevo-1, Om-1, and Mylnikova. Most specialists focus on the proportions of vessels. V.F. Gening's statistical approach is shown to be helpful, and the same is true of A.A. Bobrinsky's and Y.B. Tsetlin's methods of evaluating the form of earthen vessels by separating traditional types from imitations. Both shared and distinctive features are revealed, and various analytical techniques as applied to specific research objectives are compared.