Ulúa-Style Marble Vase Project: Dissemination of Results

Appendix: Classification of Ulúa-Style Marble Vases and Representative Image Collection

Conventions of form, motifs, and imagery allow for the placement of vases into five groups and a number of sub-groups. All whole vases and fragments and their attributes were entered into a database (Microsoft Access) using standard code names (Appendix A). I searched, using the advanced filter application in Microsoft Access for co-variation between vessel form and stylistic data. I placed the greatest weight on handle form, as I believe that this trait is the most diagnostic among the marbles without ambiguity; handle type also is used as a diagnostic trait for Lug Head polychromes (Joyce 1993a; Viel 1978). Sub-groups can be documented by comparing variation in vessel form against the cohesiveness of the resulting handle groups. I found that handle form and vessel form and support type correlated with other variables–iconographic motifs and patterns. These iconographic variables–upper border, central program, and volute type–do correspond with vessel form, but are less sensitive traits due to a higher frequency of variation, possibly due to workshop organization and/or the individual skills of the artisans.

The major five groups and a number of fragments are illustrated here. Please consult Luke (2002a) for more detailed information regarding sub-groups and sub-sub-groups as well as the isotope data for specific vases. The reference numbers for the images presented correspond to the catalogue entries in Luke (2002a).

Groups

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