Human Earth Lab
PRIMUS Researcher · ceramic technology and ancient fingerprints
Jon Ross is an anthropological archaeologist specialising in ceramic technology, the organisation of production and palaeodermatoglyphics. He combines ceramic analysis, experimental archaeology and forensic biometry.
The study presents the first experimental dataset of this scale linking fingerprints on pottery from Qedesh with measured shrinkage of regionally relevant clays and temper types. It demonstrates that generic predetermined corrections are insufficient for reliable biometric interpretation.
Fire preserved the fingerprint but also reduced its dimensions. Reliable interpretation therefore requires correction based on the properties of the actual ceramic fabric.
