Pottery uniformity in a stratified society: An ethnoarchaeological perspective from the Gamo of southwest Ethiopia

• Ethnoarchaeological study comparing pottery uniformity among full-time potters.
• I analyzed pottery from three communities.
• Assemblages from non-potter producing and potter producing communities.
• Pottery distribution influences uniformity of pottery decoration and morphology.

Previous research has shown that there are many factors, such as vessel type, size, and function, producer skill, and market systems, that can influence pottery standardization/uniformity. In this paper, I use ethnoarchaeology to explore how the social and economic organization of the Gamo living in southwestern Ethiopia affects uniformity of pottery form and decoration. I compare uniformity at the community level to test our assumptions regarding potter specialization associated with potters who are full-time craft specialists living in a complex and highly stratified, caste society. In conclusion, I argue that distribution (i.e., market and patron-client) impacts the uniformity of pottery morphology and decoration.