Towards an optimal method for estimating vessel capacity in large samples

Abstract

Estimating the capacity of ceramic vessels or containers made of other materials (metal, stone, glass, etc.) is of great utility for archaeology. In particular, it can improve our understanding of production, distribution and consumption in prehistoric societies, and, as a result, of their economic organisation. There are three methods to calculate the capacity of vessels: (1) direct measurements; (2) dividing manually the profile drawings of vessels into geometric figures whose volumes are calculated separately by means of mathematical formulae; and (3) computer-assisted calculations based on three-dimensional geometrical models of vessels. The aim of this paper is to assess the degree of accuracy and precision of measurements and the efficiency of the task measured by the time of execution of these methods. A test sample of 40 fully preserved pottery vessels of different periods and fabrics has been considered. Our results suggest that three-dimensional models generated from vector illustrations with AutoCAD® software offer the best solution to estimate the capacity of large samples of archaeological vessels.