A structural approach to ceramic design analysis: A pilot study of the “Eastern Lapita Province”

Methodological approaches to archaeological ceramic design analysis often rely upon the subjective identification and comparison of decorative design elements and motifs. In an effort to develop more objective methods, I propose and evaluate the utility of a new structural approach that focuses on the application and layout of design. This is compared to an element/motif approach and applied to a data set of Lapita archaeological ceramics from Fiji and Tonga, regions that are known to share motifs, but differ in motif application and layout. A stereomicroscope and a laser scanning confocal microscope are used to identify and measure several structural aspects of design including the shape, density, and overall layout of design elements and motifs onto a vessel surface. Results of structural analysis indicate that Fiji and Tonga should not be grouped under the previously proposed Eastern Lapita Province, given differences in design application and organization. This conclusion differs from results provided by element/motif analysis. This new structural approach provides a novel way of quantifying design diversity with application beyond the field of Lapita archaeology to other forms of archaeological ceramic design analysis.