Imogen Wood (University of Exeter, UK)

The application of Chapman’s Fragmentation Theory has generally been applied to the extraordinary or a specific suite of artefacts such as figurines and sculpture which we perceive as being endowed with social meaning, but what about the everyday objects? Fragmentation theory relies on the premise of an inherent social awareness of the practice of destruction as a significant act in certain performative contexts. If we truly intend to incorporate the tenants of Fragmentation Theory into an Archaeology of Destruction, the inherent concepts of object biographies and enchainment should be observable and applicable to all forms of material culture. The significance and function of these socially important acts would otherwise be lost on the audience upon which they are supposedly practiced. Therefore, a methodology is required to find the ‘missing pieces’ in an effort to identify a broader social awareness of its practice to establish its presence or absence in a society.

This paper presents the results of a unique application of GIS spatial analysis to trace the post-depositional life of ceramic fragments after their destruction, perhaps highlighting the intention of their demise. An analysis of all ceramic fragments has been carried out to find the ‘missing pieces’ over an entire Romano-British settlement site in Cornwall. This could possibly define deposition of particular social significance from the everyday disposal of domestic items, providing objective evidence for socially important acts not reliant on previously ambiguous interpretations based on the analysis of artefacts by feature. If a pattern relating to each exists, it may be possible to separate the general character of multiple depositional structures at work within overlying assemblages by incorporating the multiple attributes of each sherd plotted with GIS. Therefore it may be possible to highlight the role that everyday ceramics performed through these acts of destruction or socially imbued consumption, to maintain the social equilibrium of a cultural group within a settlement context.