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History vocabulary · Archaeology Basics

Sherd

Meaning in history, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In history, sherd means: A fragment of broken pottery, especially one recovered and studied archaeologically.

In Turkish: seramik parçası, çanak çömlek kırığı

How it is used

Potsherd is a synonym; a sherd's shape or decoration may be more informative than its size.

Example sentences

  1. The rim sherd preserved enough curvature to estimate the vessel's diameter.

    A fragment can reveal the form of a larger vessel.

  2. Several sherds from separate contexts joined to form one pot.

    Joining pieces can link deposits as well as reconstruct an object.

Common collocations

  • a rim sherd
  • pottery sherds
  • artifactAn object made or shaped by people, such as a tool, coin, weapon or piece of jewellery, especially one studied for what it reveals about the past.
  • excavationThe careful digging and recording of an archaeological site to uncover buildings, objects and other remains in the order in which they were buried.

More terms: Archaeology Basics

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