Sherds!
Pottery has proven to be a critical archaeological resource due to its widespread use and accessibility throughout time. Sometimes archaeologists find whole pots during their excavations, but more often than not they encounter broken pieces called sherds. This exhibit looks at archaeologists’ experiences with sherds and what these seemingly insignificant pieces of pottery can tell us about the past.

Curated by Jinette Jimenez ’21 for the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World.

While you’re waiting for the Sherds! exhibit to open, visit a pre-released section of the exhibit, “A Mountain of Sherds: What Archaeologists Have Learned From Monte Testaccio”.