Guidelines for the finds of clay pipes

By Don Duco

Abstract: Since the Treaty of Valetta (1992) more and more attention is paid to clay tobacco pipes in professional Dutch archaeology. This article describes a method for post-excavation analysis, starting at the practicalities such as washing, sorting, eventually fitting the matching parts, and working to the final result: the excavation report. The work of the desk review starts with completing the determination sheets or computerized database, followed by counting and comparison of the various groups. The find report is the main part, consisting of an introduction to the excavation or find circumstances, followed by the description of the finds themselves. The conclusion should summarize the excavation and make a synthesis of the distinguished groups of pipes and further explanation of the exceptions. In this part conclusions can be drawn from the pipes in relation to the occupants of the site. In order to make later comparisons with other findings possible, the author gives the directions for a macro-analysis: patterns in production, distribution and consumption, either on regional or national scale.

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© Don Duco, Pijpenkabinet Foundation, Amsterdam - Holland, 2003.

1. find number
The unique number of the item eventually including the code of the excavation and its exact find spot, all according to find bag or label.

2. type of object
Divided into function (tobacco pipe, cigar holder etc.) and condition (complete pipe, fragment, bowl, bowl fragment or stem fragment).

3. material
For the clay tobacco pipe this is standard pipe clay. Other types of pipes to be found are plaster moulded, ceramic, porcelain or stone ware, on top of this alternative materials such as wood, meerschaum or in rare cases other materials.

4. shape
a. Use the number of basic shape styles, as described in the Handbook.
b. Added description to refine the shape style.
c Description.

5. decoration
In logical order: bowl, stem, mouthpiece; added technical specifications such as moulded, stamped, painted, etc. Descriptions follow the focus of the smoker, meaning that left side of the bowl is the left side seen from the stem end.

6. makers mark
a. mark + location.
b. additional mark + location.
c. mould mark + location.
d. shape number + location (moulded/stamped).

7. quality and finish
Apart from the main categories – common, fine and porcelain – it can be useful to add shades like common/fine and fine/porcelain, especially in cases where it is not certain to which category a pipe belongs. Treatment of the rim of the bowl (cut, rounded, trimmed). If applicable mention specific features in finish.

8. measures
Heigth x width (thickness) of the bowl followed by the length of the stem.

9. origin
From large to small: country, region, town, maker (if possible with period of activity of the maker).

10. date
Dating using period date in years frm the oldest to the youngest possible date.
a. date known for type/shape/style.
b. production period of the maker, eventually his heirs.
c. production time of this specific find, retrieved from usage of the mould or other chacteristics.

11. microwear analysis
Gradually we distinguish four steps: unsmoked, sparsely smoked, mediocre to normal use, heavily smoked. Eventually other signs of use, such as wear and tear (use-wear), dental abrasion.

12. remarks
Comments and additional information not to be placed in other sections (weight, contents of tobacco, specific characteristics of the press mould, baking defaults or other signs from the production, reuse etcetera).

13. literature
References for determination, sources of specific information on the finds.

14. illustration
Drawing or photo number.

Notes

1. Don Duco, ‘The Assortment of Arend van Dijk, pipemaker in Gouda, Holland’, Bristol/Leiden, 1988. Don Duco, ‘Een stortvondst van Dirk Barunet uit Gorinchem’, Leiden, 1990. Don Duco, ‘De pijpenstort van Jan Blij, een verkeken kans’, Leiden, 1992.

2. D.H. Duco, ‘Kleipijpen’, chapter in: Schans op de grens, Sellingen, 1993, pp. 125-166.

3. To be released: ‘Drie eeuwen tabakspijpen uit Alkmaar, een analyse van de kleipijpen na vijftien jaar stadskernonderzoek’.

4. D.H. Duco, De Nederlandse kleipijp, handboek voor dateren en determineren, Leiden, 1987.

5. In order to avoid double counting all bowl bases (including heel) are counted, other bowl fragments are left out.

6. Duco, (‘Pijpenstort Jan Blij’), 1992.

7. Don Duco, ‘The dating of pipes across Europe, A preliminary guideline’, in: Tonpfeifen in der Schweiz, Liestal (Schweiz), 1999, pp. 9-18.