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Gather Around this Pot

http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/archeo/ceramiq/cerart1e.shtml#1

Target Audience
Grades - 6-8

Gather Around this Pot is an innovative, accurate, compelling archaeological component of the Canadian government sponsored Civilization.ca site and is a deserved centerpiece of the Science NetLinks Pottery Quest lesson. The homepage commences with an explanation of ceramic vessel functions and manufacture, and documents the diversity and richness of native ceramic making traditions in Canada. Eight hotlinks lead the viewer to engaging discussions. The initial link provides a virtual exhibit tour of archaeological specimens from 22 Canadian sites spanning the area from the northern Yukon to the Great Lakes and Maritime Provinces, and a time frame from 3500 to 250 years ago. Pottery fabrication and methods of decoration are related, and other hotlinks consider groups of vessels created by First Nations groups and recovered in village sites in southern Ontario. Clear, sharp color images depict superb examples of ceramic types and are amended by geographical and chronological information, and lists of further readings from scientific publications. Therefore, users learn who made the vessels, how they were fabricated and decorated, and their ages, and are taught about the stewardship of archaeological resources and museum conservation practices. The latter, unique to archaeological ceramic websites, demonstrates how conservators assess and treat cracked or fragmented ceramic containers. The pages provide step-by-step procedures for restoring three vessels. This Internet site loads quickly, downloads and navigates with ease, and provides links to other Web materials, one of which provides erroneous information about the earliest date for pottery (the CBC' s The History of Invention). Gather Around this Pot is an invaluable resource for students, the public, and professionals, and is one that regional archaeologists and collection curators in the United States should emulate.

Reviewer Name:	Charles C. Kolb
Reviewer Affiliation:	National Endowment for the Humanities
Site Title:	Gather Around this Pot
Site Owner/Developer:	Canadian Government
Date of Review:	11/13/2002
Technical Environment used for testing:	Memory: 16M+ Browser: Internet Explorer Internet Connection: 56