Occasional Papers

Several Occasional Papers are planned for publication in the near future. The first in the series, A Guide to the Classification of Medieval Ceramic Forms, has been published and full details are available here.

MPRG Occasional Paper 2, Minimum Standards for the Processing, Recording, Analysis and Publication of Post-Roman Ceramics, is now available. Further details can be found here.

Other papers at an advanced stage of preparation are:

• Ipswich Ware, by Paul Blinkhorn
• Trondheim Redwares, by Lyn Blackmore

Further details will be found in the Newsletter and on the website when the papers are available.

Other Publications

The Group's original standards document, Guidelines for the Processing and Publication of Medieval Pottery from Excavations, edited by Hugo Blake and Peter Davey, is a useful guide to methodology and is still available. The main contents are as follows:

• Aims of the Study of Medieval Pottery

  Including the dating of pottery; pottery as evidence for the state and development of technology; pottery as evidence of economic conditions; pottery as evidence of cultural and social conditions; and the development of pottery.

• Scientific Aids: Level A Recommendations

  Including the use of simple scientific aids in the standardisation of pottery fabric descriptions; general fabric characteristics; inclusions; surface treatment; selective use of aids; and statement of practice.

• Scientific Aids: Level B Manual

  Including mineralogical analysis; chemical analysis; technological analysis; and pottery dating.

• Data Processing

  Including quantification; the use of statistics in pottery analysis; systematic recording using modern aids; and publication of data in Level III.

• Publication

  Including aims; principles of selection; how to publish the pottery; the form of the report; the archive; and special cases.

The Group has also published a 25th Anniversary Postcard, featuring a pottery 'Supergroup' (see below). This is available from the Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary.

All our publications can be ordered using the order form available here.